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In the pommel horse final on May 10, Thien registered a routine with a difficulty score (D-score) of 5.9, the highest among the eight finalists. His main rivals, reigning Asian Games champion Lee Chih Kai and Zeinolla Idrissov, followed with D-scores of 5.8 and 5.7.
Thien executed most of his routine cleanly but lost balance on the landing. After both feet touched the ground, he leaned forward and took a step, which affected his execution score (E-score). Judges awarded him 8.366 points for execution, third behind Idrissov (8.533) and Abdullah Azimov (8.400).
In gymnastics, final scores are determined by the sum of the difficulty and execution scores. While top-level gymnasts at events like the Olympics often perform routines with D-scores between 6.0 and 6.7, even small errors in execution can impact medal standings. A perfect routine can earn up to 9 points for execution.
The performance that helped Dang Ngoc Xuan Thien win the gold medal at the 2025 World Cup Series, with 14,266 points.
Despite the landing issue, Thien's total score of 14.266 was enough to secure Vietnam's first World Cup gold medal in gymnastics since 2018, edging out Idrissov by just 0.033 points. Azimov took bronze with 13.800 points, while Lee placed fifth overall after receiving only 7.633 E-points.
Landing is a crucial skill in gymnastics. A misstep can lead to significant point deductions. According to head coach and team leader Truong Minh Sang, Thien may have lost around 0.3 points due to his landing error, but he quickly regained balance, minimizing the penalty.
In the qualifying round, Thien impressed with a flawless landing, earning an execution score of 8.950 for the same routine with a D-score of 5.9. His total score of 14.850 was the highest recorded in any major tournament worldwide this year and surpassed the E-scores of gymnasts who qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The performance in the qualifying round of the 2025 World Cup Series that helped Dang Ngoc Xuan Thien achieve the highest score so far in 2025 with 14,850 points.
Thien's recent performances suggest he is a strong contender for future Asian Games and even Olympic medals. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) called him a "rising star."
Born in 2002, Thien began training in gymnastics at age six and currently competes for Ho Chi Minh City. He has won back-to-back SEA Games gold medals in the pommel horse event.
