Men's European Championship Gymnastics: European Championships

It is time for the men's European gymnastic championships. Welcome to

Montpellier. Let's deal with the ladies first, and two weeks ago and

inexperience British team went to Brussels and Sean, with Hannah

Whelan stealing the show. -- and shone. On the men's side, getting

things off to a flying start here in Montpellier with the junior

British team and they were from a double in their hunt for medals. --

Three junior gold medals, you came here and won everything you entered.

I am extremely happy. The lads have done me proud. They helped me out

in the team final so I am really happy. No nerves on the high bar at

the end? You yes, I was nervous considering there have been some

high scores but I just did my job. You won the rings gold medal, how

did you do that? I don't know, I have been working hard for five

years so I am really happy to do it. years so I am really happy to do it.

The gold on pommel horse, no pressure on you then! No, none at

all! I was the most nervous I have been, shaking, but I just did my

best. Frank, three gold medals and a gold medal for the team as well.

How proud are you of these people? I have got to know them like family,

and to do this is excellent. Now it is time for the older men to make

their mark on Europe. Dan Keatings is not in the British team but its

five members are growing in confidence so can they get on to

the medal podium? Louis Smith introduces us to the senior team.

There are five guys in my team, starting with me, Louis Smith, I am

captain and my speciality is the pommel horse. I am a bit of a joker.

If you look at the overall picture to where we were five years ago, we

have done extremely well. We are in the team final, a qualified first,

so it is going very well. What is going through your ears last thing

before you get on to the pommel horse? For a bit of reggae. We have

a playlist sorted, and I will be jamming away. Next we have Kristian

Thomas who qualified for the floor and vault finals. He is the tallest

man in the team, so watch out for him. I really have put in the hours,

the blood, sweat and tears, so it is good it is starting to pay off.

It has taken a few years to get here but we are happy at the

position we are in. If you come to these tournaments expecting to do

well, not thinking we might make that final, we might do this, it is

good and it helps our attitude. Next we have our superhero, Dan

Purvis, who qualified for the floor final despite being ill. I really

want to put in a good score, I felt quite a bit of pressure. Standing

there thinking I have to perform this massive 2.5 Twist, I landed it

and I thought don't do about it, just do it. I landed sideways and

ran into one of the judges. As I was doing it, I thought I can't

believe this is happening. I landed, one of the judges caught me and I

couldn't believe it happened. we have Max Whitlock, he will be

joining me in the pommel horse finals. He is a gamer. This is

really big and everyone is looking forward to the final. Finally we

have our powerhouse on the vault final, watch out for his big vaults.

Training had twice a day, you wouldn't say it is easy, it is just

for one day and you have to do it right so all the hard work can pay

off. We have done one thing, then there is another stage where you

have to do a little bit better and take it home at the right time.

have a team final coming up with five guys in the team. Five Guys

compete on each piece and only those scores count so if you make a

For the first of their six pieces This is the first gymnast for Bella

Rhoose, one of three. The 20 five- year-old. They didn't have a great

A very nice easy start, half turned in the Arabian role, nice and clean.

This is the secret here. Put your first man caught with a good,

steady routine. He is not taking any chances. Dislocate into

handstand from the manner position, very nice touch. A double twist and

a hop forward. Sometimes when you see the clean routine like this,

not too difficult, it really is Cleanly held. He loves that

2.5 twist to finish, a good steady team start. There is a long way to

go. Or obviously quite a tactical decision here to go with a

decision here to go with a relatively straightforward routine.

Should be a steady first score for Their first gymnast fell so they

have only got to carry one fall. third gymnast, it is. He has

faltered on the very first difficulty. When your first man

falls, there is a lot of pressure half-turn. He has done well,

because he started very nervously with the very first half --

handstand. This was a much better team performance from the Ukraine

in qualification than we have seen for a couple of years. A young team

from the Ukraine, the eldest is 20 Great Britain. Max Whitlock was the

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first gymnast from Great Britain up, that is a good sign that he is

What a super of routine. Kristian Thomas made that look easy. What a

roof but he didn't hit the floor very well at all. Let's have a look

at this. The half-turn was very late. That is at least a point off.

You can see he was released laying the legs to get in tight. That will

be a big debate - were the feat in before the hands? He has been given

as zero. We did wonder, didn't we? We thought it was very close. That

third of the Russian gymnasts four. The Russian team qualified in third

place on the reins, a fantastic Really showing the strength work,

nothing rushed about the routine. Just a little bit of shaking as he

holds it. But he controls the top of the Rings well. Into the double

front dismount, well landed. He is thrilled with that routine.

strength and depth Unido on the the vault, which tends to score

higher. That is why they are up in only slight, but he flies through

the air. If it is perfect, 17. That would be some score. He turns and a

triple twist. He makes the turn, snaps three twists, straight down

the middle. That is the thing. Some people might say that without the

somersault it doesn't look as difficult. But look at the twists

Look at the size of him. Absolutely message needs to be that shoulders

make a straight line. It looks a tiny bit up, but might be the

camera angle... That is a straight line. So is that. He is in good

but that is too high on the with a straight back. Look at him,

isn't he a powerful looking guy? You can see that his body is

straight, his shoulders are down. Phenomenal strength. But I am very

impressed with the dismount. Double-doubles, at one time it was

unusual to see those. But now they are all performing like that.

Beijing. He's been a European vault deeper on the landing. But a hugely

difficult vault. Enough to keep Russia in the lead? Enough to keep

Russia in the lead. A double pike, the shape is all right. That is a

The second gymnast up. Dan Purvis young shoulders of Max Whitlock,

from the South Essex gymnastics He moves fast. He packs in the

difficulty. He asked to keep difficult. He is building his

difficulty. An all-important dismount and he swings into the

finish. What a fabulous routine. What a performance! Massive. He

didn't do the best in qualifying but that was superb. That is a huge

score. It's going to be 15.5 plus, I would think. Anton Golotsutskov,

a massive score. 16.1. So, Louis Smith is the next on the pommel

horse. He has a lovely, relaxed swing. But he is still extended. He

has such fast reactions. He is very quick on his hands. Full extension.

Good, accurate placement of the the pommel horse. The big bronze

conquered it. The work he can do 11 hand, an extra turn will give him

the A & E. That is how you build all named after the gymnast or the

massive routine. He got 15.9 in qualifying. Come on, 16. Come on,

judges. Give him 16. House mood was that? Unbelievable. -- House move

with was that. He looked full of confidence. Sometimes you watch him

and get nervous. 15.833. The judges quite well. They are making these

doubles looks so easy. They are, but he would not want to land too

many times like that. The pressure that your ankles take on that kind

parallel bars. Can they stay in the bronze-medal position? A very good

start. A little bit rushed, his first few elements. But that had a

lovely height and flight. Great somersault. That was very nice

indeed. Really travelled well. He is almost working the parallel bars

like the high bars, really. Lots of his showing control of the top of

his handstand. Always a little bit arched. Super height, with a hop

forward in the dismount. That was very interesting. A lot of doubles.

A spectacular extra struggle. That the Russian team. Really going well.

A lovely swing. Look at those legs, what I mean by holding a handstand

and unsettling for your next elements. Absolutely rock-solid at

the top of the swing. Another massive struggled front somersault.

Every time he hits that position, he gives himself time in the air.

That was classy work. That was a joy to watch. It had a lovely tempo.

Really good. He's brilliant on reins as well. The same sort of

consummate style. It really was the Russians. Panteleymonov, three

pieces of apparatus today for Great Britain. Great Britain are

not hold that position either. Come Britain. It is not their strongest

angle, but I thought he was a bit low. He needs to stick this, hop to

team at 29 years old. That was a and Romania third. Ukraine are 4th.

Switzerland are 5th, with Germany moving up into 6th. A big scoring

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succession. Tough worker. Good, got away with it. There is a lot of

work in this, I will tell you. Double pike. Just a little skip

backwards. But that was so businesslike. Plenty of swing,

plenty of grit and determination. They have put up a very young team.

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Small, slight and full of new work, A little bit wild with the legs.

That was a little bit late. Just tiny errors that will stop the

score going sky-high. But a good swing. He keeps the swing would in

all the time. In and out. In this work you do, you have to hit all of

your hands dance. The more work he know he is great at the vault, but

a lot of people don't remember that in 2000 he was the all-round

champion. A useful man to have one your team. Miles adrift. The door

is open for Great Britain. That was a country mile away. He just didn't

make the action. He was so close on the first couple of releases that

Denmark adrift so he needs the difficulty. Great Britain still

have it all to go through. He has recovered very well because he

looked groggy after that fall. Almost missed his grasp on the

twist, and what will he do for the dismount? Well done desquamation

marred full twist, double straight. -- Well done! He didn't really look

settled on any of the first lot of releases. Kristian Thomas, he has

qualified for the European vault final. Heaney to land this, no

questions asked. And this is a massively risky vault. He got the

feet down but he had the hands down as well. That almost looked too

leisurely in the approach. It is very high, but that is a hallmark

of without any question. What happened on high bar, he has now

even doubt. It is a good competition - relax, don't look so

worried! Can you believe this? Not as costly as we thought, perhaps.

No, but not the 16.9. He will have to go all out with his highest

difficulty. He is very good. Did he qualified first? Yes, junior

champion on the high bar, scoring good, difficult work. This is how

he is getting the difficulty, getting close to handstand on the

up, good style. Brilliantly done. Brilliantly done indeed. They are

very delighted, but of course with all three scores counting, they

can't drop the 12th. He catches the full can't stretch. -- arm stretch.

That was a great response, he got stuck in, rocketed off the top and

made a half-turn. Back in with a shout. We can see the whole vault

here. Look at the power down the runway, lifting off, under lovely

lead. Russia into second, 15.766. With two pieces of apparatus to go,

Great Britain leading by Neelie two done every single piece today.

are what you are after here. There is the fall would hit circle done

successfully, not an easy move. And another one for good luck. A little

bit late. The combination makes it slightly more difficult. Double

Double, and again, a falter on the dismount. He will not be happy at

the moment. Romania have a little bit more experience, don't they?

They have got some great work. He was very nippy with his work,

catches in the next grasp, up into Romanians on the floor. Star At

with a full twisting front, absolutely amazing. He is so aware

and able to twist. A lot of gymnasts lose where they are when

they do more to pull twisting, he in support very nicely as well. One

of the more experienced members of the Romanian team. It goes so fast,

you can barely count them as you see them. That is why we say the

judges need a good eye, they need to be able to see the twists. Not a

flicker on landing, really good work. So more of this work - that

is how he starts, full twist into 2.5 twists, amazing. Flavius Koczi,

15.033. They go ahead of the Ukraine. The second Russian gymnast.

Look at that. Double twist in pike back out, double twisting, double

back. Very smooth. He is a classy gymnast. Just as a sort of side

pass there, a double Arabian with a half-turn. That was not very clean.

controlled. It was controlled. A big tumble, a super landing. They

do these fall twisting from so well. He is absolutely delighted. They

know they are battling for every penultimate piece of apparatus, Dan

Purvis. A tiny adjustment. Nothing serious so far. Nice, good control.

The fall would spins have been done very well. -- forward spins. This

is now really close. Russia have finished on the floor, and Dan

Purvis needs 13.615 to stay ahead of them. He has 14.633! The high

bar next. So Great Britain lead Russia. That was the real battle

the pommel horse here with Flavius Koczi. Starting that single legwork

early on in the routine but he bounced his knee off then. Into the

more comfortable double leg work. He has a good physique for pommel

horse, a light frame, able to press down well and lift his body up high.

It is full of difficulty. Another little deduction, and he is

struggling to keep the form. Into the dismount, and well done. There

were deductions through the routine and they are showing it in their

faces. I always think it is better not look too dejected gone to will

the judges have made up their minds. A did well to rescue that, he will

just about get the credit for it. Putting Romania ahead of the

Ukraine. This is the last gymnast for the Ukraine. That tumble, just

a little scramble. Feet apart, tiny deductions. Massive work, this.

Lots of difficulty. A little skip back. Of the gymnasts from the

Ukraine have sped through their floor routines. He didn't quite

hold that, did he? He fell out of it. That is an element they have to

show, they have to show control in the handstand phase. He rushes

straight back in, 2.5, and he landed out of the floor. That will

be costly. That could be what loses them a medal because that is costly,

actually landing out. He pulls himself together for a nice triple

to finish but that was a nervy performance. They need 15.06, they

don't have enough. What a shame. It looks like Romania have got bronze.

The first gymnast for Great Britain It is not over yet. He didn't

really get hold of it. You just can't hang on when that happens.

Great Britain have been in the lead for two pieces of apparatus. Put it

behind you, and go fruit -- through clean. He is hesitating, and that

was very late. He just needs to stay on and stick that dismount.

Damage-limitation is what it is that. It will obviously be a costly

fall. But it is not over yet. Russia on the pommel horse, who

knows? This is a whole new pressure. Working to win a European gold

medal is something you cannot practise. He just succumbed to the

pressure. Max Whitlock, 12.533. It looks low, but there is some

Super stylish. He lifts and comes. -- teenies some big

performance, which is what you want to see through the routine. Just a

little hesitation on the dismount. He kept his composure, he knows

what he needs to do. Nail-biting. He needed that routine. The

pressure was on him. His work is just give him the boost that he

needs to chase. He has a solid bit of arm bend. Slightly askew.

hurried, but this is all right. This is what we need, to settle

European team champions. Are we seeing history here? He has built

with each performance. This was him really performing well for the team.

one Great Britain high bar routine. David Belyavskiy, the last man app

for Russia. This, to get his team cannot. Legs apart. But he is

controlling it. He is working speed. Lovely style. No! That is a

big deduction. He really had to use strength. He will not get the value

for that dismount. That could be think they know what is going on at

the moment. It will be close. spindle is fabulous. He really kept

it going. But if he used to much strength on the dismount, they will

take it away from you. I think he will be very lucky to get anything

more than 14. If they give him to score. They obviously gave him to

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it going, write to the wire. What an incredible finish. Well done,

history. Thank you very much. That was a really good routine. What a

way to finish this team competition. They know it is enough. What a

fantastic, fighting performance. He could have given up in the middle,

easily. That absolutely epitomises Kristian Thomas. The most steady,

hard-working member of the team. What a performance from the whole

team. Absolutely. I have to say, I think we are still sitting on our

seats for the score. But he could not have done more. Well done.

really got hold of it. He did. The capture, in the pike position. He

is the gymnast that has increased his work the most since Tokyo. He

has really defied the experts. He is such a tall gymnast. He has

rarely shown he can work can be a great gymnast, whatever physique.

That dismount, landed without Voltaire, was fabulous. -- falter.

The score is in, 15.133. Great Britain I European champions for

it all on the Astra team, how about the European team champions for the

first time ever. They beat Russia team from Great Britain. They have

fought hard. Great camaraderie within the team. Each and every one

of them played their vital part. up for the national anthem of Great

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An amazing experience. The team got right behind me. I knew that I

needed a performance to win gold, but I didn't know what score I

needed. I knew I was capable of doing a clean routine, it was just

dealing with the pressure. It was pretty daunting. How were you

feeling, watching him go up knowing that you already have fallen?

probably put a bit more pressure on him. He went through an amazing

routine. A bit more pressure? Probably a lot. But he dealt with

it really well. European team champions, could it have come at a

better time? It's fantastic. We are using this as preparation for the

Olympic Games. We are rewriting the record books with that result. We

can do nothing but positive mental things for these guys in terms of

getting ready for the Olympics. compete every time, how important

his consistency above everything else? Did that come through today?

It is the most important thing. Unfortunately we had a mess at on

the floor at the beginning. Then it just came clean air from there.

Watching that final performance, what was going through your head?

was nervous, big time. I was running around. I was screaming. It

was such a big relief when he stick Over the last five or six years,

you keep saying as far as gymnastics is concerned, I have

been waiting years for this to happen. Here we are, today, we have

witnessed another historic moment? I'm just as -- bad I'm still alive

to see it. It's just amazing. was right to the last piece of

apparatus. Everybody is going to be asking what it means for the

Olympics. Well, it means we have a real chance of a bronze medal.

There is China and Japan, they are pretty much unassailable. But then

there is a bunch fighting for bronze. They will be looking at

what Britain have done. A junior and senior victories, winning the

qualification. When you're trying to work out a build up, what better

way can you do? They made a few mistakes, which gives them enough

focus to get ready. You think that is a good thing? A brilliant thing.

Make a couple of mistakes, get a mental focus. In two months they

will be stronger than ever. This is the top eight from the Olympics in

Beijing. We have China, Japan, the USA, Germany, South Korea, Russia,

Romania, France. Where can we slot in? Do you know, the USA are the

The USA did not have good technique but they have a huge mental

strength in competition. If you compare the technique, there is no

comparison. We are cleaner, we have better technique. It is just a

matter of mental strength. Didn't they proved it today? That they

have the mental strength. The last man app. That is the team. Now it

is the turn of the individual apparatus finals. We have six medal

chances. We are going to start with floor, going for Great Britain is

Dan Purvis and Kristian Thomas. ambition is to go out and do a

solid performance. We are not going to put expectations on ourselves

because we have done the main job. We have lain down a marker before

the Olympics, which is what we wanted to do. We were expecting two

British gymnasts in the final. We have just heard that Dan Purvis has

he took the bronze at the world championships last year on this

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apparatus. He had a silver at the he approaches this exercise. It

gives you the feeling he is in control. Two-and-a-half, just a

have got to make it smooth. It used to be an easy way not to get a

deduction, but if you don't make smooth contact you can lose out.

That was a really nice for a team. Such a shame about stepping out of

the area at the beginning. I have to say, a big step at the end. I

have seen him perform much cleaner for his difficulty. That would mean,

if he has got that again, he would start with 16.6, but the deductions

cost him 0.4 before anything else. That is the score to beat. Gael Da

silver for France, opting for a slightly easier routine here so he

can't afford to give away anything perfection. Real power in the

double twisting front. He has stepped out, we can see the red

flag below. That was a very Building up his difficulty. Very

good, high, stylish somersault. Stylish on the movement on floor as

well. Needs to control the balance, hold it. Does that very well. You

can hear the crowd willing him on to make a really clean final tumble.

- he has done just that, really are lifted by the crowd. Plenty of

energy, a great pace, and here is the error. Did he get the red flag

for that? Yes, that is a 0.1. piece of apparatus two years ago.

Perfectly choreographed with the music. Super of twisting double

somersault, beautiful shape held in landing because he rolled out. No

deductions on landing there either. performance caught. -- up. Really

well rehearsed, he meets the floor so well. Another roll-out and you

are only allowed to on each routine, and he has had both. How about the

finish? That was a pretty impressive routine. De Danell Leyva

top routinely have seen yet, Mitch? -- definitely the top routine we

have seen. Brilliant. All the way through, Christine mentioned it, he

was precise. Watch his head, does he keep it moving? And he goes into

gold medal position. That will be hard to beat. Dzmitry Barkalau, can

he stay inside this area? That will be a key for a medal. Speeding

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across the floor, and a controlled nailed landing. He had to windmill

to make sure of it. Where are all these landings coming from?

trustingly, Gael Da silver's score important to get several

somersaults in. I think he probably just had a couple of occasions

where he just had windmill arms, but very strong floor work. Star

also come, Great Britain's Kristian Thomas, but first, back in January,

Ireland qualified gymnast for only the second time in Olympic history.

Kieran has had to work harder than most to compete at this high level.

I had it you were in my left eye. A tumour. Luckily it was not

cancerous but the operation went wrong and I was left wheelchair-

bound for a long time. I was told I would not walk again, let alone do

gymnastics. I recovered from that, decided to get back to what I love,

then I suffered a major head injury on the high bar. I was doing basic

elements but I had a bang on the back of my head and suffered brain

damage. It is quite a traumatic incident, and especially for my

family and people around me. That injury put me out of gymnastics for

just over three years and again I was told I would never walk again,

let alone do gymnastics, but I got back into gymnastics and started

doing well. Then I ruptured my right cruciate ligament and then

came from that one. Then everything was back on track, and 2010 was

going to be my first debut for Ireland in the championships, and

then I ruptured my left cruise-ship the -- cruciate ligament. I won

three World Cup medals and was crowned the floor champion, and

then January came along and I qualified at the test event. Then

to make my first ever European floor final is just remarkable.

Dreams come true, I suppose, as long as you persevere. The story

has really touched people in that it doesn't matter what you go

through, you can always achieve. Whether it is winning Olympic

medals or just going to the Olympic Games, it is the best accolade any

sportsman can try to achieve and for me to have done that is

incredible. I can't wait to go out there and do them proud and it was

definitely a triumph over adversity, floor final. He has qualified with

the third highest score. He impressed and awful lot of coaches

with the way he presents the exercise. He has got a nice

around the floor area. The quicker you were, -- work, the more you can

get in. Lots of nice control after frenetic work across the area.

the landing, but lovely looking throughout that. Here, super

highway double twisting front into our half twisting front. He made

sure of it when he got right up out of the floor into the triple twist.

Quite a deep landing and the judges will deduct, but nice work. Kieran

gets 14.433, in sixth place. Wrapping up this floor final for

Great Britain, Kristian Thomas for Great Britain. Can he get himself a

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medal? He needs to be just as three-quarters. When you're told

gymnast, if you can hold the body straight like that, it looks super.

Deep concentration, just a step to the side. Only tiny errors, a

really strong performance. 15.167 for a medal. He really does look

good. No doubt about it. Double twist, and the one and three, nice

kick out, head well forward, lovely so moves rolling. -- smooth rolling.

He has done a good job. Just outside the medals. Disappointment

for Kristian Thomas. It looks like the French team have appealed, and

Gael Da silver has been reinstated with his original score, which

gives him a share of the bronze. Kristian Thomas finishes in fifth

place. Fifth place, and just go outside the medals. Is it as

frustrating as we think? definitely, but it was not my

cleanest of routines. My legs are feeling the burnt out there and it

was hard work getting through so I have got to be impressed with

getting through the Rete and cleanly. Time for the European

pommel horse battle, and for Louis Smith, his biggest obstacle here

has always been his Hungarian opponent. Throughout his career,

the Hungarian has stud in his wake of the medal. In qualification they

15.9 is a massive score, but when finals come around it is a brand

new day. You've got to do another routine and impress the judges

again. He's a good gymnast. For me, he has done better. But I have a

respect for him. Potentially, I know I have enough talent in the

bank. I have worked hard enough over the years to believe that I

can beat him. He is younger than me. But he's very good. He's a

fantastic competitor, he is a calm, collected guy. He rarely makes a

mistake. Fair play to him, but I in this pommel horse final feeling?

We caught up with 19-year-old Max In the final with Louis, what are

the odds of creeping about him? would be amazing. He is amazing on

the pommel horse, along with Krisztian Berki, he was tried with

him in qualification. -- tied with champion. But seniors is a very

one break so far. Travelling forward and backwards. Very quick.

Keep it smooth. Get the rhythm. Well, that is the lead. What a

recovery on that the dismount. That was tremendous. That's the hardest

routine we have seen so far in this final. Such a quick thinking

gymnast. The difficulty in this was huge. He worked the apparatus so

fast and kept such control of it. Just the like separation. But it

was almost as if it didn't happen. -- leg separation. That is where he

hit the handle. Many a gymnast would have fallen. He really has

triple Russian in the middle. That is so difficult to swing clear of

the hand. A lovely bit of technique. Shoulders pressed back, keeping it

his way through to the dismount and he keeps the rhythm. That was

impressive. He is definitely back for medal here, in 2012. Single

legwork, as you said. Many gymnasts are opting to do that right at the

beginning of the routine. He didn't lose for more rhythm into the

dismount. That is proven, for many gymnasts, to be a bit of a

done so much for the interest in men's gymnastics in Great Britain.

So many medals at international level. It would be great to see him

into the rhythm. It's about precision and about keeping back

through the spindle. He has picked up the rhythm of the circle. Triple

Russian. I'll tell you what, he's Louis Smith. He's gone through

again. He's through. Now it's in at the beginning. He has the most

difficult routine. What he loses on generally is the execution score.

When you split your legs or do not. Your toes, the judges take points

off. -- do not point your toes. He needs to get into nine pluses on

execution. He really worked hard at it. This was much cleaner, for my

money. What do you reckon? The only fault that I have seen was a tiny

bend in the arm on the way to the handstand. The rest of it, look at

that smile, he could be delighted with that. I wonder? 15.9 in

qualifying. 15.775. Definitely the winning score at the moment. But

current world and European champion, medal contention. -- within a gold

medal contention. That leg separation, look at this.

Playing safe, none of that. He's seen the difficulty that Louis

Smith posted and he's got to go for wins, he deserves it. That was a

real routine, under pressure. Having seen Louis Smith produce

that great routine, that was the Michelle they really could -- great

exciting. It's a crowd-pleaser. It does look very exciting. This young

man will know he has a battle on. He has to stay in tip-top condition,

with a score of 15.958. Louis Smith, in the way of European gold for

Louis Smith. Now he knows exactly what he needs to work on and he has

That European title is proving a tough nut to crack? It is. I did my

routine. You accept what has happened. You know, I worked hard

for it. It's all right. UK and off, on Twitter afterwards he said that

his score looked wrong and you should have four. What happened?

Some of the judges said that it was a spindle element that should have

been done in one circle. He did three-quarters of it in two. It's

about whether it should have been a 67, rather than a 69. Then I would

have been in front. Your first European final, how did you find

it? I'm happy with what I've done, I upped the qualification routine.

It was a lot harder and quite tiring. But I'm really happy with

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clear difference. And there it is. adjustment. This will be very close.

Pace on the dismount. Sujit at the body strength. -- huge upper body

strength. Look at the arms. That is what it is all about. Relatively

small body, so that you can hold it straight like that. He makes it

highest qualifier. They say every 10th counts. He's going for 6.7 on

difficulty. Just down by one on double front combination. This is a

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routine. Just a tiny error in swing. Neither one predominant. A

young gymnast, really showing good technique. The Russian gymnasts are

always very good, technically. They never rush their work. They teach

every skill methodically. That was position at the moment with 15.666.

One more gymnast to go. The youngest member of this final, 19.

He is also in the vault final next. Gosh, a gymnast for the future. At

19, plenty strong enough now. That them a tiny bit higher. -- feet a

little low. Lovely technique on the swinging elements, just soft in the

bark a tiny bit. Nothing disastrous. Nailed the landing. This is a tough

competition to get into the top three but that was a good effort.

Let's have a look at this. He stops in the exact position, very, very

nice work. Very impressive. Double twist, double straight, a tiny

adjustment to the side. Denis Ablyazin takes a bronze, a score of

15.453. The Italian has been such a strong force in the world of rings

Flavius Koczi starts things off, the former silver medallist. This

could be a medal for Kristian Thomas. Let's see how the British

What are you looking to do in the final? I need to stick both of them,

or at least one of them. I just need the chance to make the top

three. Do you think you are thriving in this environment, with

the whole team lifting each other? It is definitely a good environment

because seeing your team-mate doing well pushes you one, and you see

each other as a learning curve to move on to bigger and better things.

As you can imagine, it is a good training environment to be in,

especially when we have a good championships so we use it to our

advantage, definitely. Gymnasts will get two vaults. A triple twist.

Amazing awareness in the air. forming his favoured vault first.

forming his favoured vault first. Makes a half-turn, then three twist

vaults. The difficulty of the last one was the seven. Absolutely

superbly. Under control. Was it 2.5 twists? It was. A handspring on

with 2.5 twist off. Goes on straight, then wraps that -- the

twists off. He is so good at twisting. Panteleymonov, for Great

Britain. Cracking vaulting yesterday to help Great Britain win

the gold medal for the team. push, and the heart to her nicely

done, kicked out. He made two rotations then kicked it out

through the hips. That was massive. Not only did it have height, it had

tremendous length as well. Kicks and turns, a little hop, a tiny

deviation from the straight line but he got so tight in the tuck

qualification. I guess it will be something involving 2.5 turns so he

has got to know where he is on the last turn. A good effort, but quite

a hop sideways. He has had a good final, good steady vaulting. Twice

he has produced it. A turn on there, too 0.5 twists. He is almost at the

end of the landing surface. Split legs, that will be a deduction from

next to go, qualified fourth. The British vault champion. I think you

can see why... And he fell over writer at the end. A very difficult

vault, heat over rotated. You are squeezing to get it round, and just

pulled a little too hard. Slightly undercooked it yesterday, make sure

today that he had plenty of height and time in the air. He looked like

he was home and dry. He gets a wonderful plant and a lovely lift

off the top but he landed with his hips behind his feet, and it is

here, 6.6 difficulty. Come spring double front. Dead centre down

there. That is a good repertoire of vaulting. I think this bodes very

well for an Olympic final. If in the next few weeks he can get the

half turnout on that, and he certainly has the air time for the

extra half-turn, and that will give him two seven vaults. He is fifth,

a great effort from Kristian Thomas. Denis Ablyazin, the current Russian

vault champion. This is his third apparatus final. Been all over the

arena. Just needs settle down. explode off the top of this

platform, and he does. There is the double pike, and lovely straight

legs. Height, length, that has it all. Beautiful in the air,

absolutely. Only down a tiny bit, but in the air he looked great.

you thought that was hard, wait until you see his next vault, the

7.2 difficulty. So, the most difficult vault we have seen in

this championships. Fantastic. The round off, there have turned on,

handspring up in the air, 2.5 twists. Really complicated vaulting.

Left at the angle in the shoulders, he did well to get that up. He made

sure he got it round. He did get it round, yes. It is not good enough

for gold. He can't understand it. The last gymnast in this vault

final. He is a replacement but he did get gold at the London Olympic

test event earlier this year, and he has too much grow very difficult

vaults. -- two difficult vaults. sees the floor lovely and early.

Make sure of the double tuck, use the momentum, kick out and spot the

landing. Flavius Koczi has led from the start. If he can keep their

consistency, he will take gold from the Romanian. Remember, it is an

average of the two vaults. Why on explosive element. And he did very

well to hold on to that. Whether those big steps will be too costly

for a gold, but that was super vaulting. If he wants their bronze,

got himself a silver. That is in a class of its own, it deserved -

just for the sheer height and technical ability, that deserved it.

Look at this. Rocketing up,. His toes on the first, that had very

special flight. The reaction at the end - terrific. you really need to

give credit to good technique, and special height and control. What do

you think, Christine? They were both fabulous but you have to marry

the difficulty with control. Flavius Koczi takes gold. An

unbelievable performance from the Ukrainian in second place but it

was not quite enough. By the time you got to that vault final, was it

hard to find the energy? Yes, it is also quite mentally

tough. You need to make sure you are in the right frame of mind to

make sure you are safe because they are quite dangerous. I have only

been doing it a few months so it was good preparation for the

Olympics to be doing it today, and I get more of a field, so it is all

Just 18 years old, but he has the second hardest routine in this

always technically great. Very comfortable on a single handle.

Super height from the parallel bars. That was an excellent routine.

is the routine to beat. There was a slight flex in the elbows, but

apart from that... Where do you take off marks? Very nice. He kicks

out from that deep fold. Very quickly through the somersault.

Good technique, straight shape, pike shape. On to one rail with a

handstand. Very well done. A tough move. It is the lead, it is the

question of who is going to challenge afterwards. But he is

times. He is in a class of his own. He faded a little bit, but look at

and straight adjusting the shape. This is great. He is swinging

continuously. A little bit low and they hop forward, but that is

lovely to watch. What a flowing routine. Interesting to see what he

gets for his difficulty. Oleg Verniaiev had 6.7 and his score is

15.666. He really works with the apparatus. Nothing looks a struggle.

He showed his class. Straight arms, all of the time. He generates power

from the apparatus. He lets the dismount, he allows it to lift him

up, just back landing. At least spectacular stuff. Half turn. Look

at that, a long Ms Quinn -- long shoulders, every time he catches.

The legs are locked together. You can see, when he is in the hands

than shape, he pushes up to get maximum height. Look at the locked

position. I love this dismount. He brings it so close to the bar as

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bars. Oleg Verniaiev takes the for Russia. 21 years old, the

highest qualifiers. He is a former junior champion on a high bar and

he has the highest difficulty in this final. He has amazing

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shoulders. Fully extended on a double-double. It couldn't have

gone any better than that. That was a fantastic landing. Remarkably

controlled throughout, from start to finish. Total accuracy. This is

the new young Russian generation. I think they are going to wow those

in the future. He is technically strong. Lovely turns. You can see

the head fixed between the arms, all of the time when he is working.

He's got a perfect kick with the feet and he converts it

magnificently. Double twist, arms out. A stable landing. No problem

with that, he wasn't still twisting is going to be a tough score to

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mixed grip as well. He is packing of the difficulty in. You can see

how supple he is to be able to swing in that dislocated grip.

discount? A single twist, and he under. He shifts his grip to make

the heart turn. His shoulders work right around, very well done indeed.

Lovely technique. Classic work. only thing you would perhaps say is

that it is very much on a theme, he has shown one skill, the Tkatchav

skill, and he has used it four times in different guises. That's

true, but at the same time they will not punish him for that.

the highest score. He's been European champion on high bar five

really is very sharp. That was a Gaylord, that was done in 1984, the

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may salvage a medal. It's unlikely, unless he gets the pace. That is

what really good high bar work is about. He does the full pirouette

and then he is meant to go straight over. You just feel he didn't have

enough swing. He will lose the combination. He still did the move,

What an incredible few days for British gymnastics. It's fair to

say that you have had a lot of confidence, but you took your

knocks here and there. What was the secret here? The whole team was

completely focused. We have dealt with the fact there is going to be

expectation. It is getting close to London. We didn't worry about

trying to win gold medals, this or that, we just wanted to do the

routines clean and go home. The guys really understood that this

time. What is your plan with execution and difficulty as far has

the pommel horse is concerned? said, do you really want to go for

the difficult routine? He said, how about going for the easier one and

seeing what happened? To be fair, it was a sensible decision. I felt

a bit wobbly. It was a bit tough to get through the routine. T Wise,

were you allowed to celebrate? You didn't get any French

champagne? We had a champagne toast. I put some lemonade in my drink. We

had to focus on the finals. It's been quite successful. We wish you

all the best for the preparations. Just keep everything crossed. That

is it from the gymnastics. This is what else is coming up on BBC Sport.

On Wednesday, a special edition of Football Focus at the start of Euro

2012. Dan Walker will be in Poland. Alan Shearer catches up with Wayne

Rooney. The Diamond League series travels to Oslo on Thursday.