Chechi keeps promise

Former Olympic champion Yuri Chechi fulfilled a promise to his ailing father when he turned in a defiant performance on the rings at the Athens Games. The oldest gymnast at this Olympics, the 34-year-old Italian had retired after triumphing on his...

Former Olympic champion Yuri Chechi fulfilled a promise to his ailing father when he turned in a defiant performance on the rings at the Athens Games.

The oldest gymnast at this Olympics, the 34-year-old Italian had retired after triumphing on his signature event in Atlanta eight years ago.

But a vow intended to help pull his father through serious illness last year saw him return to arduous training and make his comeback in the Olympic arena, reaching the rings final.

Keeping a bedside vigil, Chechi urged his father to find the strength to recover, promising that if he did, he would get back into shape and go for Olympic gold once again.

Chechi senior kept his side of the deal so the five-times world champion headed back into the gym and duly booked his ticket to Athens.

After securing 9.762 on the rings on the opening day of the gymnastics competition, Chechi will go for gold on Sunday.

He will, however, have his work cut out as he will be up against medal favourites and joint world champions Jordan Jovtchev of Bulgaria and Greece's Dimosthenis Tampakos.

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