LONDON, Aug 5: Krisztian Berki of Hungary won the gold medal in the pommel horse on Sunday, denying Louis Smith another British victory at the London Olympics.

Four years after a tie-break dropped him from second to bronze, Smith had to settle for second instead of gold. He and Berki finished with identical 16.066 scores, but Berki got the gold because his execution score of 9.166 was a mere .10 points better.

With the Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton, sitting in the front row, just a few feet away from him, Smith stared at the scoreboard with a look of astonishment.

Earlier on Sunday, Sandra Izbasa of Romania won the gold in the vault as American McKayla Maroney’s rare mistake cost her victory that everyone had been certain was hers.

Maroney appeared to land her second vault on the backs of her heels. Her feet slid out from under her, and she plopped on the mat, a look of shock crossing her face.

“I already knew that I pretty much only had the silver medal. I really didn’t deserve to win a gold medal if I fall on my butt,” Maroney said. “I was still happy with a silver, but it’s still just sad.”

Zou Kai of China won his fifth career gold medal, defending his title on floor exercise. He already had one gold from China’s victory in the men’s team competition last week, and has three more from the Beijing Games.—AP