OMNISPORT

Venue: Rio Olympic Arena

Medals available: 54

Dates: Artistic – August 6-16, Trampoline – Aug 12-13, Rhythmic – Aug 19-21

Dominant nations: China and Russia shared 24 of the 54 medals available in London four years ago, while the United States was the only other nation to claim more than one gold

Star names: Kohei Uchimura (Japan), Simone Biles (USA)

As well as offering a 'wow factor' that few sports can match, the gymnastics events in Rio are set to serve as a showcase for two of the most dominant athletes in the world.

Japanese superstar Kohei Uchimura and American teenager Simone Biles will be the hot favorites for the much-coveted individual all-around gold medals in the men's and women's artistic programs.

Widely regarded as the finest male gymnast in history and often referred to as 'King Kohei', Uchimura has claimed solo all-around titles at the last six World Championships, dating back to 2009 - an unprecedented feat.

Now 27, he secured the same prize at the London 2012 Olympics and can be expected to once again set the standard with his graceful routines.

Uchimura will also target team success with Japan, who were edged out by China in the collective men's all-around event four years ago, while the brilliant Biles - a similarly prolific winner in recent years - is set to be central to the United States' bid for glory in the women's competitions.

A further 10 gold medals will be up for grabs at Rio's Olympic Arena in the individual artistic events that make up the all-around programmes, with gymnasts of both genders seeking to catch the eye on the floor and vault.

Female athletes will demonstrate their prowess on the balance beam and uneven bars, while solo male competitions will involve the horizontal bar, parallel bars, pommel horse and rings - the latter a particularly exacting test of strength.

Marks in all events are awarded for the difficulty and execution of the technical aspects of each routine.

Falls from apparatus are heavily penalised, but even the slightest false movement can prove costly in a sport that demands a beguiling blend of precision and power.

Artistic gymnastics - a staple of the Olympic programme since 1896 - certainly proved popular among spectators in London, partially due to the success of hosts Great Britain in securing four medals - comfortably their best haul at a single Games.

Max Whitlock broke new ground by becoming the first British man to claim World Championships gold in 2015, on the pommel horse, and he will be eyeing further glory in Brazil.

The rhythmic events offer an altogether different challenge.

Russian athletes have taken every gold medal available this century in the exclusively female discipline, which sees apparatus such as hoops, ribbons and clubs incorporated into individual and group routines.

The third of the gymnastics disciplines, trampoline, was only added to the Olympic programme at Sydney 2000.

Two individual gold medals will be up for grabs this time around, with competitors judged on their acrobatic movements and flight time.