China's Xiao Qin performs on the pommel horse during the men's apparatus final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Xiao Qin claimed the title of the event with a score of 15.875. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese gymnast Xiao Qin won the men's pommel horse crown Sunday at the Beijing Olympics.

    Xiao, reigning world champion who entered the final in first place, took the gold medal in 15.875 points.

    Pilip Ude of Croatia took the silver in 15.725 points and Louis Smith of Britain won the bronze with the same score of 15.725 points under a tie-break rule.

    With Xiao's victory, host China reaped five gymanstics gold medals so far at the Beijing Olympics, the most gymnastics golds it has won at an Olympic Games.

    The previous record was set at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, when China claimed four gymnastics golds.

    Xiao, a three-time world champion on pommel horse, performed powerful swings, circles and undercuts on a difficulty of 6.4 points to claim his first Olympic individual title.

    "I intended to do this (winning the gold) in the Athens Olympics but I didn't have the chance. Today I was able to do it," said the 23-year-old Xiao.

    Asked why he cried out that "I get to take a vacation" after winning the gold, Xiao said the longest holiday he had had in the last few years was three days. "Now I can finally take a rest," he said.

    But he said he was not as excited as he was when he won the team gold medal, because after winning the team, he and his teammates "finally released the pressure that had built up for so many years."

    The victory was somewhat like a revenge for Xiao, as he fell during qualifications and failed to make the final in the 2004 Athens Olympics. His flaw on his speciality also pulled the Chinese men's team down in the team title contest.

    Ude was also happy with a silver medal as it's a frog-leap in his gymnastics career. He only finished 29th on pommel horse at the 2007 world championships.

    "I was the last performer and when I finished my routine I know I should have a medal because I had stronger performance today," he said .

    "For me, it's a dream come true. I dedicate this (the medal) to my mum, my family, my sisters, my coaches and everyone who has cheered for me, " he said.

    Smith's bronze medal is his country's first individual apparatus medal. The 19-year-old described the win as something "crazy, amazing, emotional, scary, nervous everything". He said he yearned for a gold medal.

    After five days of competition, there are eight gymnastics golds up for grabs at the Beijing Olympic Games. 

China's Xiao Qin performs on the pommel horse during the men's apparatus final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Xiao Qin claimed the title of the event with a score of 15.875. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) Photo Gallery>>>