The pre-event expectations were of a gold-medal tussle between China and Japan – but not in this fashion.

A terrible pommel horse routine for Tokyo 2020 all-around winner Daiki Hashimoto looked to have put paid to Japan’s challenge early and China established a comfortable lead.

But Hashimoto stepped up to deliver a brilliant high bar routine and capitalise on Su’s huge mistakes to give Japan the gold by a narrow margin – just 0.532 separated the top two nations.

Great Britain were consistent throughout, with some encouraging performances – particularly an upgraded pommel horse routine for Whitlock – that give hope there may still be medals for them in the individual finals.

Whitlock, 31, appearing in his fourth and final Games, had been seeking to add to his six Olympic medals.

He will bid to win a third successive pommel horse gold on Saturday and has a chance to become the first gymnast to win medals on the same apparatus at four successive Games.

His team-mates also still have opportunities for individual medals, with Jarman reaching the all-around, floor and vault finals.

He is joined in Wednesday’s all-around final by Fraser, while Hepworth will be in the vault and rings finals, and Whitehouse in the floor final.

It is the first time Great Britain’s men have booked six places in individual apparatus finals at an Olympics.

“We’ve made history from the number of finals we’ve made in qualifications and now we can try and move forward, take confidence from today and hopefully finals can go to plan,” Whitlock said.

Great Britain’s women compete on Tuesday in their team final, where American Simone Biles will be seeking to lead her team to gold after dazzling on her Olympic return in qualifying.