New blood Lin wins China's second gold at gymnastics worlds

Lin Chaopan won a gold medal on his first appearance at a major tournament and gave China its second gold at the 44th World Championships in Antwerp on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Lin, who had never competed in an Olympics or worlds, shared the men's parallel bars gold medal with Japanese great Kohei Uchimura. Both scored 15.666 points.

It was China's second gold medal after Huang Huidan took the women's uneven bars on Saturday.

"It's a great honor to share the gold with Uchimura," said a jubilant Lin. "It's just like a dream."

Uchimura became the first man to win four all-around world titles two days ago and has been regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts.

"I hope that one day I can beat him, although it looks very important now," said Lin.

It proved true soon after. Uchimura went on to take the men's high bar bronze while Lin came eighth in this event, which was won by Olympic champion Epke Zonderland of the Netherlands.

US teenager Simone Biles, the women's all-around champion, also won a second gold from the floor.

The US champion scored 15.000 to beat Italy's Vanessa Ferrari, the 2006 world all-around champion, who scored 14.633.

She went home with a total of four medals, one silver on the vault and bronze on the balance beam besides the golds.

Russia's Aliya Mustafina, the uneven bars Olympic champion, captured the gold on the beam and her third medal in total. She also won bronze in the all-around and on the uneven bars.

South Korea's Yang Hak-seon, who became his country's first-even gymnastics Olympic champion last year, retained his vault title.

The 20-year-old scored 15.553 to beat American Steven Legendre (15.249) and Britain's Kristian Thomas (15.233).