BEIJING — China won the gold medal it has long craved in men's gymnastics today, while the Americans settled for bronze.

China's score of 286.125 was more than seven points ahead of Japan, the defending Olympic champion. The Americans were in the running for the silver until their last two events, but it was a solid finish for a team that had to replace not one, but two injured Hamm brothers in the 10 days before the games began.

This was the second straight Olympic medal for the Americans, who finished with 275.850 points.