Men's Apparatus Final Gymnastics: European Championships

Welcome to highlights of the European gymnastics champions, if

you didn't see your today's men's team final, this is what you missed

is. The first gymnast to go for Great Britain is Nile Wilson. He

comes for the final tumble, triple twist. Great finish, just what we

have come to expect from Kristian Thomas, very good opening for Great

Britain. A fight between Great Britain and Russia. That was an

immaculate triple twist. A massive class of floor work. Done. Look at

that, Great Britain back in contention. Super dismount, superb

performance. That is his own move. Exceptional ring work. Proving how

much he deserves his place here. Britain closing the gap slightly.

Yes!. Fantastic. That is very good. Very good

control. Come on Nile go for it. What a routine. One of the best, if

not the best today. Here we go again. The half-time and

a good swing up, come on Nile Wilson. Two twists. What a

performance. They have really won today. Great performance from the

British team. They are European champions again. They will now that

Britain are without a certain Max Whitlock. Great competition and I

think we all did our job, fantastically well. It is great to

be amongst the medals. We are not that full capacity, we have Macs and

other people in the locker, we are doing fantastically well. What a

team finally proved to be. Joining me this afternoon to talk you

through today's action is Beth Prodl and then Keatings. Yesterday, rusher

held on to the European title in sublime style, Britain went 18

routines without a hitch and the Swiss managed to get their hands on

the bronze in front of the home crowd, but a moment for them. We

have not seen the Russian team perform like that for years. As soon

as they walked out, they looked really calm and collected and even

in qualification, they were still marks ahead of us, so we knew we had

to pull it out of the bag and Russia had to make mistakes. We were three

months behind them at the end of yesterday's result, but like we said

that, there are still people at home, ten weeks to go until real, --

until Rio. Over three Mark Stone, that is a big gap even without Macs.

Where you surprised by the difference? We are always good to

lose marks not having Macs in the team but I didn't quite realise how

strong Russia were until the qualifications. ? How much do you

think Max is work. A minimum of three marks, he does add that to the

team. With Russia it would have been a real fight. Russia were very good

on the day. Would have been a good match and we have a lot of other

people at home as well and they do look good and I was really surprised

by how much. Sat here having a conversation about being so close to

Russia and looking forward to the team medal in Rio. When you look at

the achievements and where this has come from in the last ten years. It

is remarkable. You look at the top left corner. 2006, 11th. What is the

secret, what has been happening? For me it is a combination of things.

The lottery funding has done a lot for British gymnastics in British

sport and the belief within the camp. Lewis and Daniel were the

first to bring those medals in and then you have the youngsters

training underneath thinking hang on a minute, we see them training in a

gym, if they can do it then we can do it and that belief has just

continued. When I was first on the scene, they were targeting Louis and

Daniel and they must have been 910 years old and then the results

started to come through in 2004 and 2006. Have you always got that

incredible support network coming up from the junior ranks? Ever since

Louis got his medal in Beijing. It helps a lot with funding. From then

we realised we could get Olympic medals, world medals, European

medals and pushed on and there was that belief, not just the gymnasts

but the whole support team. I guess you have really known no difference

but everybody I speak to, they say we love the gymnastics and cannot

wait to see it. You are in for a treat this afternoon because seven

more medal chances today for our British gymnasts and here is who to

look out for. How much focus to think there has

been within the British squad on the European Championships? I think it

was a good test to see how the boys would compete under the same format

without Max we can try out Courtney as well and explore the depths

within the team and we are not good to be 100%. We will be saving that

for Rio, 90% but not quite fitting top form so you might feel to

squeeze some more out. Ethical to peak for a competition but for those

gymnasts who want to show what they are capable of achieving. A great

stepping stone, we didn't have to do anything for the test event, we were

able to give the gymnasts experienced and some of them were

able to try out routines, may be the first time out in a major

championships and the national system, the technical director is

able to see what the gymnasts are able to produce under that pressure.

What a job that is. The fact that Courtney was able to come into the

team and shall in yesterday's team final he could score that under that

pressure situation. We will hear from all of the GB boys this

afternoon and a couple of European champions hoping to retain their

titles, Louis Smith on, horse is one of them is as Kristian Thomas on the

floor but another gymnast hoping to get back onto the medal podium is

Dan Purvis, a stalwart of the British team on his consistency has

been invaluable during team competitions. A good performance at

these championships would be massive, too sure that I can hit my

routines really clean. Also doing it under pressure, quite a lot of

pressure, hitting the routines consistently and hopefully I can do

that will put me in good stead for Rio. The main thing is Rio, that is

the next plan after these championships. I guess the key is

just too sure I can show consistency and if I can tidy up my routines

right now that would put me in good stead for the trials. COMMENTATOR:

That was fantastic. From Dan Purvis. Unbelievable. This Olympic cycle has

been so difficult, so many top gymnasts, a couple of injuries here

and there but everyone is looking to peak for the trials and the squad is

looking in good fitness, it will be massive. Whoever the team will be

able be a strong team because everybody is pushing each other and

ultimately it makes the team even stronger if everyone is at their

best. It will be a good case for getting to peak fitness than get

into the Rio selection. Kristian has always had a great

floor. He is great on fault and high bar as well. We have to hit our

routines and Kristian is so humble, has a great career and would be

great to go around with my friend and fellow team-mate. My routine, I

feel steady with it and confident and I feel like I try to add things

it might not go to plan and at the same venue have to think if you keep

the routine as clean as I can and get that mark barrier I can be in

the ballpark. Not think too much about the other gymnasts. It is just

a case of being around the ballpark, if I can stay at the top I have got

a good chance. Lovely sentiment, nice to go round with my friend.

Two British gymnasts taking part in this final.

Dragulescu 's world floor champion four times. Dan Purvis, we have just

heard from him, wrapping things up as the eighth gymnast. We will start

with Belyavskiy. 24 years old. Was superb in the team competition. Very

good, double twist, back out. Super definition in his twist, you see him

lift up, we can then twist. Makes it all very clean. Just a little hop on

that landing. He is a very classy gymnast. Always extended, legs

locked together. Looks as bit and as strong as I have seen him in this

cycle. Just as it should B preparing for the Olympic Games. Really lands

with ease. He anticipates the floor, absorbs the landing. Textbook bend

of the knees. Now, big final tumble. Super triple twist, just a little

hop forward, tiny bit under rotated but first man out, that was a very

impressive performance. Really precise and older tumbles, very

difficult opening, double twist, into the back. Out. Lots of gymnasts

preferred to initiate the twists later. It makes it more difficult.

There is the Russian Circle, we often see that on the pommel horse.

And there you can see, wraps up. Superb in the air, triple twist,

spots the floor. Little adjustment on landing. Very efficient routine.

Nagornyy, the second Russian gymnast in this final, and also involved in

parallel bars today. Just raise yourself, this is the definition of

graceful power. Into the tuck position, down the side. Very

powerful gymnast. There you go, three and a half. Full twist.

Accurate and precise as ever. Double twist. In two double front, that is

huge difficulty. If you combine the difficult skills, that is where you

get the bonus. Double pike, Arabian. Seems to be a signature move in the

Russian team. Gymnasts must perform and

non-acrobatic element, opting for the wider arm handstand. Originality

within his choreography. Stands up, two and a half. Front half. That is

the buzzer. 60 seconds, must finish. Stands up, triple twist, glued to

the floor. Look at the joy and! And the relief on his face. When you

come here and you know what you can do and you manage to deliver on this

stage, goodness me, what a feeling. This gymnast is so precise with

every round, look at the Arms, locked by the years, this was just

the only tumble. Two somersaults with two twists and he did it from a

little hop. Watch this one. Two twists forward 's, immediate punch

front, two somersaults forward and just plopped out of the air with a

little hop. That is two of the most difficult moves linked together and

of course, fantastic twisting as well. New good count that Brown,

three and a half, meets the floor, goes into a front somersault with

the half-time. -- you can count that round. That should call into the

lead. Got to be a medal, but what colour? One gymnast has posted a

higher difficulty is in qualifications all cells -- so still

somebody who can beat that. Here comes the current European floor

champion, from Great Britain, Kristian Thomas.

Really elevate. The double twist forward, full twist forwards. Little

step out on the landing. Plenty of flight and height. Very stylish

gymnast, he led the British team superbly to the silver medal. 18

routines, not a single error, not a fall. Good control. Now, big

concentration. Has to finish with a D tumble, a double Arabian. That's

the way to finish. Fantastic gymnast for Great Britain, Kristian Thomas.

Very steady, super, precise. Time will tell. With Kristian, he has

such a clever, constructed routine, it is so difficult but precise and

neat at the same time which is why he is the current European champion.

He just managed to stay in the floor. Some of his landings were

slightly off the pace, but the clever routine. There he is, showing

off his poor more work. He doesn't get to do that much any more. --

pommel work. He is one of the more senior members, and this was a big

ask. He will have to spend a lot of time recovering. He is in third.

15.041 for Kristian Thomas. Pablo Braegger gets introduced to the home

crowd. Currently holds the bronze medal at the European Championships

on the floor from last year. He has the high bar final to come as well

so no doubt the crowd will be cheering him at the beginning and

end of this competition. Very nice two and a half twist. Double,

double. He stuttered around and that landing will be expensive, it will

be a 0.5 loss. I liked that, the second somersault was higher than

the first, he really elevated. He is settled now. Lovely body-line,

straight back in the handstand. Smooth lift, beautiful shoulder

extension. Big, high roll-out there. Rapidly

into this big last tumble, triple twist. This is almost compulsory

finish, so many of them using triple twist, an E difficulty. I think he

might have just went out but after that he seemed to stick every

tumble, he had to make up for it. A lovely one and a half punch double

twist. 15.100, Pablo Braegger into third.

The bearded figure of Alexander Shatilov. He has been on the scene

for a while now. 29 years old. He got himself a bronze medal back in

2007. - lighted, full, nice into the two and a half. Does well for at all

gymnast to stay in the floor. Pinpoint accuracy there. A little

shrug of the shoulders. Compose, full, nice height, lift of the head.

Originality, virtuosity. He has got it all. Going well, come on. Two and

a half, tuck front full, super spatial awareness. Just got to hold

on. Full twisting double back, what a shame, going out of the floor. Do

you know, without having a team here, Shatilov hasn't worked

yesterday, hasn't worked since his qualification competition and really

looked quite fresh. You can see the difference. He just had a bit of

trouble harnessing the last tumble but that was a really fabulous

landing on the double twisting double back. Double twisting front,

and really high lift. We couldn't see the feet but there was a

suspicion of the fact that he might have been just over the line when he

punched but that is the way to have no landing deductions, immediate

punch. Here, just one twist in the double back.

15.300, it is a huge score, he has gone into second. He is in the

silver medal position. Brace yourselves, ladies and gentlemen,

this is the four time world champion,

Dragulescu, he has had every colour medal going. Nice to see you back.

Hugely exciting, dynamic gymnast. Oh, but the very first tumble turn

lands with the fought out. -- foot out. Those hours of practising

landings, and even that was a clever step out. He disguised it but it was

a step on landing. Steadying himself down with handstand.

And the half twist, one and a half twist, that's better. The floor is

quite bouncy and if you don't land with a lot of precision, it really

coils and bounces you back-up -- recoils. Full twisting double back.

Great stuff, still got that dynamic excitement. Mightily impressive and

vastly entertaining. If you look at the difficulty, and the amount of

twists, it will be right up there. One, two, half, little hop forward,

but this is where you get the difficulty, by combining these

difficult tumbles. There is the roll-out. And giving yourself that

leeway by building the difficult tumbles. The final tumble was double

twisting double back, that's how much power this gymnast has on the

last tumble, from a little skip step. Hugely powerful, hugely

entertaining and a real favourite within the gymnastic community. He

is in second, 15.333! What a result! Great Britain's Dan Purvis rounds

off this European men's final. He knows what it's like to get bronze.

Full twisting double back, deep lunge forward. Unfortunately that

will be costly. Better in the twisting tumble. Settle in now, Dan.

That's the double front, and yet again, deep back. Two and a half,

full. Just struggling to control the landings today. There is the wide

arm handstand. Into the corner. Got to control those nerves. Better in

the roll-out. I would say that is the best roll-out in the world, he

really does that well. There's the final buzzer. Double Arabian, much

better landing. A strong effort, a strong effort, after a wonderful

team performance yesterday. He worked every single piece so he must

be shattered. Really good, precise work, but he just lands with the

chest down a little bit which means he has got to take a big step. He

will get a double deduction there from the judges. He was superb on

floor yesterday from the routine, and that was a wonderful way to

finish. Dan Purvis scores 14.633. There is the new European floor

champion. The results, then, of the men's floor final. Nagornyy, back

from retirement. A little disappointing to be honest. It has

been a tough week. Early start this morning so my legs didn't seem to

have it in them. Go back and hopefully improve on that team. So

no individual apparatus medal, but you did get the team medal. How has

the week gone for you? Great, the team has done so well. Really

positive, looking towards Rio now. It has been a successful week.

It's a shame he said he feels a bit disappointed, after what they have

achieved. That Nagornyy, the Russian gymnast, the lightness of touch and

the flair to take that title. Yes, the perfect combination of power and

elegance, performed perfectly and the well-deserved champion. And the

other medallists, Beth, you could get back in the sport! 35 years old.

Two of those medallists have a combined age of 64! I think it shows

a experience plays a big part. Each competition you do, you learn from

it. Dragulescu has been winning medals since 2009 and he wants to go

to Rio and win a medal. They have that experience and they keep calm

and collected. All eyes will be on Great Britain's Louis Smith in the

next European final. We are now moving on to pommels, and Louis is

hoping to retain his European title and state his case for a place in

Rio. Louis Smith, delivers. Goodness me

he didn't let anyone down there. I am at full fitness, the aim is to

peak for when Rio is here and I feel good enough to do a good score these

championships, what are they really about? It is a chicken run, it is

nice to put on European champions, we want medals and to do well but it

is an Olympic year, it takes a back-seat. The Olympics definitely

takes priority. You don't want to take unnecessary risks and get

injured, you want to leave the competition fit and healthy and try

to build as a team, showing the nation what we are capable of on

what we do. Do you have two up your game on the pommel horse? It is very

difficult for a specialist to be selected. We are not the strongest

on pommel horse, we have a self bit. Without me in the team, you are

losing maybe 1.5 marks from the team event. I am quite consistent, I

sometimes make mistakes but it doesn't happen very often and you

cannot I experience, it is definitely scary to step up to the

plate knowing you have one job to do but I think I am one of the

world-class pommel horse workers and at the moment, but -- the moment I

start buckling under pressure is when I have to step down. How would

you compare yourself now to be for London? I was able to train more

hours, do more apparatus, I felt younger and healthier, my body was

like an elastic band. Now that is a lot more difficult. Doing the hours

in the gym and a lot more conscious of what my body can do, it has been

really juggling, trying to vary the routine while meeting the health of

the body. Do you think it is a big chance to nail that place? It is a

big chance. Since the World Championships last year in October,

on the selecting criteria they said everything from that World

Championships is counted for selection. So I had that, I did the

British Championships, did very well, have done a few Grand Prix

since then, the European Championships, if I do good scores

here, it sets me up with a good chance. Would be good to put in a

good performance here and we should find that the fate of the British

team. The 27-year-old brimming with confidence. It goes back to what you

were saying about Dragulescu and Shatilov, later in their career to

get more comfortable. You do but Louis alluded to it, you have to be

a lot more cover with your training, you cannot do the numbers the

youngsters are doing, you have to let your body recover and maybe do

slightly different training programmes so one it comes to, he

won't do the same programme as what Max is doing. It has not done him

any harm so far. For sure and it is important to look good and there he

was in that clip with a little cap on keeping his hair still under

wraps and everybody wondered what he looked like. We are going on a trip

through memory lane. That was 2012. We were in Neolithic village and he

was on a half-day and we asked him where he was disappearing too and he

said he was going home to get his hair cut. This one, what was your

reaction when he turned up in the gym with this? I remember he turned

up and he had a hat on for the whole session, he wouldn't show was what

he was. He changes his hair so much. Just used to it by then. During the

little chat we were talking about feeling a lot younger and feeling

more elastic. We can just see, 12 years ago when Britain started to

make their mark on the European stage, on this particular piece of

apparatus, we see a very young and Keatings as well. The secret of our

juniors on this piece of apparatus because now we are world-renowned on

this piece. Yes, I think it started first in 2004 and then 2006 and

again it is about their belief, seeing that someone could do it so

we try to follow in his footsteps and it has just progressed from

there, Ruby and it has now become one of our most famous pieces. And

you move up through the junior ranks and he became our very first

European champion on pommel at a senior level. Here you are, this was

then. What do you remember about this routine. Did you know you were

going to win? No. I remember Burke hadn't made the final, the door was

open. I just knew I had to put in a big performance and let the judges

judge it. Hopefully I would get a medal. When you look at the table of

achievement on this piece, it really is something. You still have more

titles at European level than anybody else. Look at that. Where do

you keep all your European medals? I have got a few of them in frames

with pictures. I think there are a couple in my kitchen drawer.

LAUGHTER . Time to see if Louis can put

another one into his kitchen drawer, but go over.

Louis will be going fifth, quite a good position, there is no Max

Whitlock. The main challengers are going to come from Seligman from

Croatia and Merdinyan. But get to the action. COMMENTATOR: First

gymnast in the main's pommel final. Has got a bronze medal. ,

Tommasone. Back down into the single legwork. Great execution and

amplitude in the legs. Super like separation. In between the handles.

The Russian Circle, very difficult. There is the double leg circles,

slight loss of form on the one handle, that is where the gymnast

gain the difficulty by combining the skills on the one handle. Travelled

down the horse, another like separation. Losing a few tense every

time and is off. That will be costly, one full mark. Tommasone

will lose that. What happened there? That was a much bigger routine that

he did in qualification and he just ran out of steam. They will be going

all out to beat Louis, they have to put everything in and this is what

happens, the more difficult the routine, the more chance you have

falling off, straight back in into the hands that, good discount,

disappointing start for Tommasone of France. Where his hips round in the

wrong direction? I cannot see a mistake, I think he just ran out of

steam. He was fighting through the performance, two times where he

split his legs and had to fight to stay on, that takes a lot of energy

from you, you will be tired then that is what will happen. He knows

that will not challenge. Robert Seligman from Croatia. He was

just outside the medals at last year's Europeans on pommel horse.

Exploit four difficulty but he has good execution. -- 6.4 difficulty.

Posted a good score in qualification. He touched the hearts

at the start, but look at the lovely extension through the hips at the

front of the swing, the straighter you can hold the body, the better

and that is very difficult work, the multiple cycles on one hand. Dear

me! Is this going to be one of those finals where everybody is going for

broke and just cannot maintain it? What happened there? I think with

his circle, you can easily become out of control and I think he was

off on the one handle which made him lose his balance. Because he would

sit round so quickly. The same lovely swing, the judges will not

have much to take off the execution scores. Really travelling well

along. He is very fast. His hands have to move very quickly to work

with that very first swing but it makes pommel horse spectacular.

Piling in the difficulty now. Very quiet finish and other than the fall

in the middle it was beautiful. He was really pushing and he lifted his

hips at the back, the shoulders went down and there is only one place to

go and that is on the mat, turning into quite a pommel horse final. Two

from two falls. He certainly has the style and the difficulty. Could well

be a case of whatever you do when you are on the horse, do it well.

We call to one of the oldest gymnasts in this final, 31 years old

Bertoncelj. Can he stay on? Starts off with the scissor work into the

middle. Very unique move. Lovely to see. Onto the one handle, again,

such extension in the circles, really nice to see. The backwards

move across the horse. This is going really well.

If he hits this dismount, this could be up there. I don't want to say I

jinxed him there! That was going so well. I think it is going to be one

of these finals. Three out of three, what is going on? Whatever is in the

water over there! I don't quite understand it. Sometimes this

happens with pommel horse. It is almost as if the thing is jinxed.

Finishes off with a handstand this mind, so unfortunately was right at

the end of his routine. At this moment in time it is just about

staying on. They could reduce their difficulty and just try to stay on.

Merdinyan, can he be the first gymnast get through a routine

without a fall. 31 use old, European silver medal last year. And many

times at the Euros on pommel horse. Starts with a single legwork,

gymnasts have two short double legwork, circles with the feet

together and he almost came to grief but fought hard and some single

legwork. Quite a new innovation, the pirouetting in the handstand. Very

smooth, up and down into those. Really made pommel horse and

exciting, he just has to hang on there, keep his concentration. Fast

hands. Keep the shoulders in line. As the guys have been saying, he

knows he just estimated through to the end. Very good swing, very good

style. RP goes, into the dismount and gets through. Fantastic, he will

be really relieved. He got his way through every attempt of the 6.7

difficulty. That will be our leader and he did fight, twice in that

routine I thought he was going to come off and that just shows the

determination in that young man. Really packed the difficulty in that

routine. Technically in my mind, not the best we have seen, however, he

as a mark up on everybody else because he stayed on the apparatus.

That was a mistake at the start, fortunately he managed just a

flicker in the legs and stayed on. There you can see. The difficult

work with the flaring to handstand, down into the flair but battled

again to keep the momentum going. 31 years of age. Using all of his

experience to get through that Paul Mulrennan team. -- to get through

all of that routine. That matches Louis Smith, unless Louis decides to

go higher in terms of difficulty. The current European champion, Louis

Smith. World silver, Olympics over medallist. Can he retain his

European title? It is time to find out. Come on, Louis. Time to stamp

your authority in this pommel horse final. Just keep the composure.

Single leg, straight to handstand. And again. Locks out. Picks up into

the double leg circle now. On the one handle. There are the Stockley

's. That gives the difficulty. Into the Russian on the one handle. Into

a full spindle. Now that was a slip from the horse. That was definitely

a slip from the horse. Just there, it slips of the side. Lack of chalk

or shiny leather? It can be a mixture of a lot of things. Sweaty

hands which caused him to slip off the side. He is back on and back to

business. Very efficient. Still the chance of a medal, up into

a handstand. There tap of the chest but a disappointing routine for

Louis. Nothing technically wrong, but he obviously didn't place it

quite securely enough on the top of the horse. He was a bit too much

down the side so he slipped. I don't think so because his hand was on the

top, to me that was a slip on the leather. You often find as you

travel around the world and compete on these apparatus, if someone has

bought something on the leather before, some gymnasts use water,

honey, salt, he has caught that and he's completely off. The others have

fallen through technical faults. That was no fault of his own. Louis

is into second. Merdinyan leading the competition.

Kuksenkov from Russia, the next gymnast to challenge. He picks up

into the double leg circles. Nice one handle work, which is a

requirement. Up into the handstand. Into the flair work, this is really

good work. And again, he has actually increased the difficulty.

Travelling along the horse in flairs. This is going really well.

Oh! Again! I think Dan you will have to be careful about saying that.

This is unprecedented! He upped that a lot compared to his previous

routine. You could see he was struggling towards the end, and

there is the dismount to finish. There is only one gymnast who has

managed to get through a routine. It certainly is a very unusual pommel

horse final. Dan is doing the maths, he has upped that considerably over

seven. I'm thinking that is quite a lot actually, towards 7.2 maybe. It

is always a question, to really throw the difficulty. 14.566. He is

sitting in third at the moment. Let's see if he increases the

difficulty or concentrates on the execution. 14.566 is the score to

get into the medals at the moment. He did a great job for the team last

night. He's certainly working well here. Lots of pace. Good style. He

knows he has just got to keep concentrating and go cleanly through

this routine. Keeping those legs locked together. Up, round, and he

has made it! He could get silver. He could get Switzerland's first-ever

pommel medal maybe, or maybe not the first but the first in a long time.

Really fast hands, hugely difficult circling in the middle. Swing, if

anything a little bit skewed, shoulders slightly out of line with

the horse at times, but in this final just to get through from start

to finish is likely to put you on the podium. He has gone up into

second, 14.9 for Baumann and ahead of Louis Smith. Capable of 15.1, can

he get himself a medal here and push Louis Smith out of the medals. Doing

everything he can to keep calm and remain composed. Starting off with

the scissors to handstand. Lovely full turn on the one arm. Onto the

one handle. Just doing his best to stay on here.

Up onto the one handle as well. He's fighting, he's fighting. And up into

the dismount. It is going to be close. He whipped up that dismount,

he wanted to get off as quick as possible. He's through, but is he on

the medal podium? That is the question that the judges had to

answer. Louis Smith Great Britain has 14.733, Baumann 14.9. Maybe not

15, but it could go above Louis' score. There is something about the

Russians today, a real energy amongst the team. They are enjoying

themselves. And what a performance, to go out there after you have had

five falls and to pull off a routine like that. There were times on the

spindle again, when you think, has he just stayed on? He did really

well. He has never had a European pommel medal, he has now, he has

gone into second. Baumann, for Switzerland, takes the bronze. There

is the new champion, Merdinyan. Confirmation of the men's pommel

horse final. Merdinyan, the European champion.

It is not often we see you fall off the pommel horse, what happened? I

don't know, I felt good, I started my routine of clean and before I

know it's my hand had slipped off the side. When that happens, there

is no saving it. Sometimes you can rectify the mistake but it was so

quick there was nothing I can do. Was there not enough chalk on your

hands? Describe what that is down to. As gymnasts we try to make the

sport look easy, when we do it, we try to show how beautiful and easy

it is but underneath all of that it is a difficult job. Everyone trips

up when they are walking now and again. It is exactly what happened

on the pommel horse. I was going through my emotions and my hand

slipped off the side. Maybe it's because I'm too muscly!

It is one thing to walk down the road and triple but that is another

to try and post one of the most difficult pommel horse routines in

the world and I think that was the issue, that everybody was going all

out because the big guns were there. Yes, obviously Rio is not far away

so they want to try out their routines and know that that is the

routine they will use in Rio. Gradually as people were starting to

fall, as a mentality of a gymnast you think, do I step back and go

clean to stay on, but then you are not rehearsing the routine you maybe

do in the gym so it can go against you. Also the mindset, if I stay on,

I could be European champion. I think for Kuksenkov that was a big

thing. And you know the mind games that can be played in a final like

that. Yes, I have had it before where a lot of people fell in front

of me and I thought this could be my year, then I have made a mistake. It

is just one of those things that can happen. This is Louis' moment here.

You were sitting beside me in commentary, you were shocked. I

didn't expect it. Usually you can see if they are about to fall, if

their shoulders are in the wrong place, but that was a random error,

just one of those things. We heard Craig talking in commentary about,

basically using the contents of his kitchen cupboard, when he said what

some gymnasts put on, but it can be an issue who is going on before you.

Yes, some use honey, some use sugar water, some just use chalk.

Sometimes there might be some honey left on the apparatus but

unfortunately that is the elite level sport. You cannot even blame

it on a technical error. Louis didn't know it had happened until it

had happened. It is not a bad thing. Obviously he will be disappointed

today but it is better that it happens now than in eight weeks.

What did you use? I was just chalk and water. Dan? Just chalk on the

pommel horse, but sugar water on the P bars. Just the one you get down

the supermarket! Perfect. With every score counting, there was all sorts

of pressure on the British team, none more so than on the shoulders

of Courtney Tulloch, having already qualified for the rings final he did

a remarkable job in securing the team silver. Here he is talking to

David. Courtney Tulloch for Great Britain. How do you feel to be here?

It must be a great opportunity for you. Yes, I got told pretty late

that Max wasn't going to be here so luckily I was ready and I had been

doing a lot of competitions. I am excited to be here and obviously I'm

happy. What is the importance of these championships for you

personally? I just want to go out there and do the P bars and help the

team. That is the most important thing, and what the selectors are

looking at is who can benefit the team the most and that is what I'm

trying to do. Have you tried to add anything else to your gymnastics in

order to make you more selectable? Yes, I have started doing all around

since the worlds in Glasgow. I have been doing more apparatus and trying

to get my difficulty levels up. My vault is coming along, floor is

getting better so I'm happy with the progress I am making. You get big

scores on the rings, don't you, and you have your own move. Tell us

about it. I remember when I was pretty young, I was messing about on

one of the rings machines, and the thought of it, I remember doing it

and getting my friend to record it. I thought this is cool, but then I

forgot about it completely. It is almost like a position of laying in

bed but on the rings. It is hard to explain but when I do it in the

routine, people see what it is. That is immensely powerful... I took it

out of my routine just to improve it, working hard in the gym to get

it as straight as possible. It is back in my routine now, and it has

been going really well. I have just got to prove myself at big

competitions like this. Quite something, isn't it, at the age of

12 when you realise you can do the Tulloch! We said earlier on what a

performance he had put in, proving he is in with a good shout as far as

selection is concerned in Rio. Yes, his strength positions on the rings

are perfect, it literally comes down to the dismount. If you stick that,

you will come out with a big score. To hit that 15.7, you have got to

stick the discount. And just a word on the quiet progress he has been

making. It shows when he did the bars in the team final, before he

would be used for rings and also parallel bars and he will start

doing more and more. He has had the 90 rest, our gymnasts have been

doing an enormous amount of gymnastics, but this is the way it

works when you do the team final and the individual apparatus finals next

to each other, how do you find it back in the day, how did you keep

fresh? Hill it is difficult, an unusual decision that they put the

senior apparatus finals this morning, so the seniors had a 12

hour turnaround, which for some day like Courtney that is using an

immense amount of strength and that routine, it is not a lot of recovery

time but they have the team and medical staff out there helping him

recover. He has done his best, he and the rest of the medical team and

let's have a look at who he is up against.

Petrounias, current world and European champion, he will be going

second. Abliazin qualified third. Van Gelder

is the last gymnast to go. Let's join the lads on rings.

COMMENTATOR: Petrounias, unsurprisingly the highest

qualifier, the current world and European champion.

He is performing a 6.8 difficulty. Just wait and watch the execution.

Immensely compact and powerful gymnast. The pickle to comprehend

watching this just how strong he is -- difficult to comprehend. That is

a cycle round, Maltese into the top flange. Bounce back to the Maltese.

Th lifts his head. Circle round to the Maltese, shoulders flat, body

level with the rings. That is what the judges are looking for. Blocks

out the handstand. In the crucifix. The front

somersault, straight into the crucifix, open hands. Just to prove

how strong he is. Double pike. Swings to the handstand, effortless.

It is the amplitude. Double twisted, double pike, little adjustment on

landing, cracking routine. The sharpness and the precision of those

swings, just locks it into position. He is really a specialist. A

virtuoso. Perfect physique for the sport. And

the idea is to hold the body in a completely straight line and that he

does, look at the power through the shoulders. The list of the chin as

if to say, I can do this so easy and I can look up as well. And of

course, a relatively young gymnast who has grabbed the swinging

elements. That super straight line. The only question is that this man,

you can see the coach slightly edgily there and a little hop

forward, but really excellent work. It is a huge score. Execution in the

nines. Higher than qualification. Next up. Never medalled at the

European Championships before, could this be his year? He has been in the

final many a time. Fantastic strong left. Another

circle to a completely straight strength move. Each of these

strength elements has got a difficulty score, add them together

and the bonus goes up, so the score goes higher. Swung to handstand,

little shake at the top and those swinging elements not quite so

convincing. Although the strength hold at the end of it was.

Each strength element has to be held. The judges have to get their

mental clocks out and make sure it is held long enough, just wobbling

around a little bit with the rings, not quite in a straight line, lovely

dismount but the handstands will tell with the judges's score. Little

loss of form, spot-on on the strength elements. You'll notice a

lot of the gymnasts now within the crucifix are lifting their hands of

the rings, they don't get any more difficulty for this or value, The

Jacks show to the judges the virtuosity and the strength they can

do that. Punching his hands. That was a good routine. Not good enough

to go into first place. Good enough for second at the moment. 15.6.

he got a bronze medal at the Championships that year -- Abliazin.

Strong start. Write to the Maltese. Flat with the rings. Watch this.

Press back to the Maltese. Very difficult work. Now he needs to work

on the swing. Double cut, double pike, back up to the top, much

better than yesterday. That is when you circle round to the crucifix and

kicked back into the crucifix. Little bit of a swing on the rings.

Have to control that. Forward into the handstand. Backward long swing.

Needs a good dismount. Double twist than double straight, went back on

the landing. I tell you what, he has some good timing to try to control

the rings. You have to drop down from that handstand position at

exactly the right time to try to counteract the swing you have got

going and he managed it, got his dismount round without over

rotating. Huge dismount as well. Of course, he is a great vaulter, so

the dismount phase is not a problem for him.

He goes into second. Joint second with daddy -- Davtyan.

Ait Said of France. Tied with Abliazin last year. He was a former

European champion on rings. Just a tiny bit low with the feet.

That is a little bit better. Very stylish. Shoulders well in line

with the hands. That is what the judges have to decide, that is what

all the little deductions are from, very smooth on the swings.

Each of these plans she is our slightly below the hips and just a

little of in the back on the handstand. But really nice routine,

showing good balance, swung forwards and backwards. Here comes the

dismount, the double straight with full twist, good control, a very

complete routine, even if there were tiny errors. Probably one of the

weaker part of the routine is when he came out of the double hike,

little bit clunky, but then fixed well into the Maltese. That is where

the body is level with the rings. If the shoulders are at had high, that

will be a 10th and the judges, these are the best judges in the world,

that will not get past them and he had to do a few little alterations

that Christine picked up on on the handstand but the finish, the judges

will remember that for that superb. It is not enough. Ait Said into

fourth place. Here we go, the former junior

European champion for Great Britain it is Courtney Tulloch. Great

Britain have never had a rings medal, could this be the day?

The most difficult routine in qualification. 6.9 but must execute

well. Strong start. Up into the top palnch watch this. That is his own

move, the Tulloch. The Maltese, lift of the head. Now he needs the swing.

Into handstand. Rises to the top planch. Into the crucifix. Little

nod of the head. Showing the amplitude. Double pike. Into the

Maltese. Position is superb. Fix the handstand. All on the dismount. Full

twist, little adjustment, super routine. Could be good enough to go

into the top three. A crucial dismount isn't enough -- is it

enough? He scored 15.7 in the final yesterday. He needs 15.63 to join

the silver medal winning party which is a tie. Look at that superb shape

you can just imagine, you know how hard it is holding that shape laying

flat on the floor, let alone holding the rings as well and he lifts right

to a dead straight line, he really is powerful, he has worked very hard

on the swinging and the dismounting phase. Throws the rings away, wraps

that full twist in the position. Good style, legs locked together,

just a little hop back, he managed to keep away from the big set, that

was super work. It is very close. Courtney in fourth, outside the

medals tied for silver. Th this is the last gymnast to go, a man who

will have something to say. Van Gelder. Three-time European

champion, former world champion on the rings.

This, this is strength, unbelievable. Circle round to the

top planche. Look at how steady his feet are. Maltese, maybe a little

high. Into the inverted crucifix. That is a double cup and that double

pike, into the top planche. A little flicker of the legs, that is because

of the strain. Maltese. Into the crucifix.

Got to fix the handstand. Full twist, double straight. Good in the

dismount. Good in parts. I don't think just good enough. It was a

very similar difficulty score to Petrounias. This will be down to

execution. It was looking very clean and precise, incredible strength in

those presses. One of the things that up about this routine is that

it was quite short and you can pack the difficulty in and you don't have

to make a long routine, you don't get too weary. With untidy feet.

You can see he is shaking with the effort. The less moves you do, if

you only have to do ten moves, you can only be deducted for little

errors ten times. I felt this was quite a short routine, quite a

clever routine. Yes, very clever but the swinging element is the weakest

part of that routine. Van Gelder outside of the medals in fourth. It

ties with Courtney Tulloch. Two ties in this final, but there is your

champion yet again! Petrounias. He is world champion and again he is

European champion. Confirmation. It juniors retains his European title

to go along with a world title he has.

on the quiet progress he has been making.

It was an amazing rings final, really strong. I love watching it

because I look up to a lot of them. It was really close between all of

us. A lot of positives to take away and I'm pleased. And looking forward

towards Rio, I suppose selection is coming up. Do you feel able to

improve? Yes, my goal is to be in that team. There's a lot of us

fighting. I want to take this as a positive and fight my way into the

team. It is nice to hear that Courtney enjoyed watching the final,

we did too and we will be talking about Rio selection shortly but the

finals for Britain keep on coming, as they do for Kristian Thomas. It

is time for the vaults now, and it is a piece on which Kristian has

made many historic leaps and landings. Let's hear from the big

man. COMMENTATOR: Bring it all home, big

man, this is down to you. This is just what was needed! Kristian

Thomas, you are incredible! That night in London was so special

for the team. 95% of that crowd was there tattoo -- to cheer on Great

Britain. The way the team competition went was that I was the

last man on floor. I was so confident I was going to deliver

that routine, when I finished I kind of knew we had won the medal, but

you never know what will happen. There was a bit of drama, where we

second or bronze. It was one of those occasions that I know will

live with me for the rest of the life. For you, a good performance

here in Bern, what would that do in your head for selection? The

European Championships are step towards the Olympics. We know we can

take away from it the good, the bad, what we can work on for the summer,

but at the same time we are all vying for five spots in the Olympic

team so we need to go out there and produce the results we know we are

capable of. We want to give the selection committee the headache of

who to take. The good thing about having multiple finals is that it

gives you more opportunities to do that. COMMENTATOR: Come on, a

Kristian. Really needs to be precise here. You cannot be much more

precise than that. That is the stuff of dreams from Kristian Thomas.

Vault is one of those apparatus where such a lot can happen in a

short space of time and landings are crucial. If I can do that, that

gives me an opportunity. It is over so quickly, and you have this burst

of adrenaline, and then it is over within a matter of seconds. It is

quite a tough apparatus in the finals but nonetheless I'm looking

forward to it and hopefully I will be able to seize my chance in the

final as well. Quite nice to be reminiscing about

Antwerp, 2013 am a commentary. We all thought he had done really well,

he got the bronze which was great. Yes, I didn't realise they had

filmed us watching it, we were jumping up and down because we

thought he had won the title. He such a consistent person. He is the

hardest worker in the gym, he knows what his job is and he goes and does

it and he's a great team captain. The vibe he creates from your point

of view, Dan? He will always go clean, fingers crossed! He is the

dependable guy, the captain, he's probably got the most experience

apart from Louis and he's someone you can look up to into the team,

almost a father figure. If you have any problems, they can really look

up to him and ask questions. Let's have a quick word on setting up this

vault final because in the team final you only get one vault, in

this one you get two. You have got to have two different types of

entries and it is such a difficult final. Chris mentioned it, it is a

lottery. Those double somersaults, you are talking about fractions and

if you are slightly out you are not on your feet and you could be either

on your face or your bottom. The vault final for me is the most

dangerous, the hardest to be in, because they walk out of the gym and

literally have to go without a warm up. Whereas with the other

apparatus, the first skill you do warms you up. For Kristian, going

six, let's have a look at the start list. You can see Nagornyy already

has a gold today so he is sitting pretty. It is just wonderful to see

Dragulescu in fourth position. Kristian will be going six. Let's

get down to the runway and see what happens.

To start, Nagornyy of Russia. He had no problem with coming straight off

the podium and to the end of the vault runway. That was a fantastic

vault. An absolute belter to start off this men's final. Look at that,

two and a half somersaults with the half turn, spots the landing. Wow,

what a start. Looks up the floor, that's how you do it. 15.466 out of

a possible 16. 9.466 for execution. Here comes the world number two.

Instead of that handspring entrance he will have to do something

different, go backwards onto the horse. Again, a six difficulty. And

he has done his favourite vault first so is always a challenge. Oh,

and it is a challenge. Triple twist off, and a big hop to the side. But

incredibly difficult to control that twisting vault as you come in to

land. Absolutely, and I would be saying is it a triple. He's about

two and three quarters round. Because he was still twisting as he

hit the mat, he had no option but to go sideways. Shoulders back, not

over his centre of gravity, and off. They have given him the sixth. An

average of 14.916 after both vaults are added together. The European

champion twice in 2014, 20 13. He has been in a world final as well.

Can he really gain this European title? That's the aim here. Now this

is something rather special. Big vault, it is the first twist within

the double back. Really efficient, chest down, shoulders down, hands

down. There you go, 14.066 for vaults number one. Keep an eye on

the scoreboard to his right hand side of the runway, you will see it

as he runs past. Another hugely difficult vault, different approach.

Handspring into the two and a half, and he absolutely nails the

landing... On his head. Not the best outing on vault today whatsoever.

You can see, I think he was a little late, just lost the height. Bang on

the middle, absolutely, just not enough block. He was given the 6.2,

no penalties there, but he has an average of 14.033. Abliazin, just

not your day-to-day. Davtyan, 23 years old now, I think

he will go for the six difficulty first. Armenia have had a great

finals so far. Is it going to be another one? That was beautiful

vaulting. Absolutely fabulous. Held that body shape, wrapped the twist

in really impressively. Yes, a gold and a silver in today's final so far

for Armenia. Handspring on, two and a half twists off. Fabulous. Watch

the block, hits the table, rockets high into the air. You can see the

difference between that two and a half and Abliazin on the height. He

can spot the flaw in the middle. One adjustment on landing. So, the --

very much on target here bearing in mind Nagornyy's second vault was 14

point 366. Unbelievable difficult to hear. --

unbelievable difficulty here. The second vault is always the tricky

one. Triple twist, not quite so well controlled but he turns on, snaps

off, wraps in the triple twist. He really twists beautifully. I think

that is worth more than 14.360 six. If the judges agreed, he will go

into the lead. He is superb in the air. Wraps in, legs straight, maybe

apart a little bit but the judges won't spot that. Slight hop back,

but two very good consistent vaults. This is where I think... Davtyan

goes into the lead! Can he hang on? Will he be the third gymnast from

Armenia to medals today? -- to medal. Dragulescu, back from

retirement. Can he get his second medal of today's finals? This is his

vault to do it. On the money! That is how you do it. That was really

good. You have seen Nagornyy earlier do a Dragulescu, and he has bought,

I can't let him do my move. He matches the best score of the day.

15.433 for vault one. So, what has Dragulescu got in the

locker? He has upped the difficulty so this one is harder than the last

vault. Yes, powers down the runway. Straight front, two and a half. Big

step on landing but it was on his feet. Very clean, efficient vault.

Look at that. He really twists very efficiently. There will be a few

deductions. He was outside the centre line, landed inside the

double line but that was a clean turn on. He comes aggressively low,

out through the shoulders, nice straight body shape.

He does step outside of both lines. It has joint lead with Davtyan.

Verniaiev, qualified with the fifth highest score. Got a bronze a couple

of years ago at the Euros on vault. Starting with a six difficulty.

For a slight gymnast he can generate some power. Such hike, such power,

that, for me is the best we have seen. So right when he lands. The

height on that Dragulescu was at least a foot or even higher than the

ones we have seen, they might take 0.1 on the dismount for such a

small, compact gymnast, that way he transfers the block in from the

table into height and look at the length of the vault, shoulders up,

superb vaulting. Great scorer, but not the highest we have seen. That

is the 0.1. So they cannot split the vaults.

Verniaiev posted a six for his second vault as far as difficulty is

concerned. I'm sure he will stick with the same plan of action here.

An average of 14.9 needed. Another hugely difficult vault. The

turn. The triple. That was a fabulous second vault. Very

effective. Blocks high into the air, Rapson, executes the twist superbly.

Verniaiev, into the lead by 0.0 eight.

Kristian Thomas at the end of the vault run. He got a third in the

World Championships back in 2013. Such a powerful falter. Capable of

wonderful landings. Come on, Chris. Double pike. And that is what we

needed. Get in there, my son. He is so efficient on this, isn't he? We

have watched this vault grow in time, when he first did it he had to

squeeze it round, now he blocks so efficiently, lifts up, almost able

to start opening to land. Really good vaulting. And it is a massive

15.5. The highest score we have seen in this vault final so far. Can he

just maintain this consistency. Giving himself just the slightest

offer there. And easier vault, very important to keep the form, execute

as clean as possible, spot that landing. Come on, Chris. Not so easy

to learn. Hands-free, double front somersault. Splits the landing,

takes a step back. Let's just hope the first vault will carry that

average. This is fantastic vaulting from Kristian Thomas, such a precise

gymnast, other than the step that. There are no deductions on that,

often the gymnasts hit with their legs already bent, he depresses the

springs and that is what lifts up in the year, he leaves the platform

with his legs straight and then snaps into that double somersault,

because he doesn't have turned out it is lower tariff and also it is

blind, doesn't get sight of the floor until very late. Just came out

a fraction early. It is not enough to get up into the medals.

Benjamin Gischard from Switzerland. The Swiss having such a storming

Europeans in front of their home crowd. One of the youngest Swiss

gymnasts in the team, 20 years old. Scurrying down the runway. Super

twisting but he ran out of rotation, really. He had lots of hype but as

you come off the top you have two snap and create rotation as well.

Look to me like something happened on the springboard like he slipped

and he went into the vault at the wrong angle and that meant he

couldn't block from the top and obviously at that height, it causes

a lack of rotation. Gischard's second vault. Scored well

with this vault in qualification. I was going to say performed much

better but just a little bit ran out of legs and had to step back and

down. There you can see, just lacks a little bit of block, he really has

to transfer the power into a bit more height. On the rotation, steps

back. The back arm, he really needs to block a little bit higher. To

land, the blind landing. If you nails both vaults, he will be

in with a chance. If. He has got two six difficulties. Let's see what is

first, a ruffle approach. Big block. The Dragulescu again, little bit

deep on the landing, not as good as we have seen so far. He tapped a

little bit early. And I think the hands possibly touched there. Feet

first but I think the hands did touch. He is already talking.

Creating a bit of a problem for himself.

I would let him for that, he wasn't putting his hands down, it was just

a load landing. They agree with me. Thank you. It wasn't an intentional

hand. Second vault, needs every single

10th he can muster here. Strong approach again. Got the block. Much

better there, that double pike. That second vault. Little bit too much,

too late. Got his hands well away from the mat. Very true. That was a

brilliant second vault. Super. Just 18, give him a few more months and

he will be competitive with those two vault. One of the cleanest

rounds on the time, so was able to snap and block off the top as well.

Seemed to land a little bit straight, it took him by surprise.

Gets his shoulders run, this platform is quite springy, if you

hit it right, it will lift you up. Li it is a fifth least finish for

Hrimeche. Verniaiev is the new European champion. Davtyan taking

silver and Dragulescu taking bronze. Was so close, nail-biting final, we

love the vault, it is over so quickly but so dynamic. The exciting

thing with the vault is you never know what is going to happen. There

can be so many mistakes and there were a few big vault is that managed

to land both. Is it too late for Kristian to be working on the

difficulty on the second vault because he is a brittle bit down on

the world stage. The lament the second vault is what brings him

down, that is why he didn't get into the medal today. It is never too

late to learn anything but you have to look at though risk of putting

that extra difficulty in. With the consistency, we know he can do those

two vault and at first vault, there is nobody else that does it in the

world like him, it is unbelievable. It is hard to make that decision, do

you go for more difficulty. Verniaiev, he really is an all-round

gymnast. Interesting to see his tactics and the European

Championship and what he is working on, how he is building his

difficulty so when it comes to the all-round he will be a tough one to

beat. Thinking about individual apparatus as well and trying to get

as many as he can. The all-rounder, got a lot more in his locker and

interesting to see what routines he puts out. The senior British results

that we are seeing now are the culmination of years and years of

hard work, all born out of a record-breaking junior programme

that has become world-renowned. The juniors have been competing

alongside the men out in Switzerland, let's just bring you

up-to-date with what has been happening. Great Britain's star boy,

Regini-Moran has been impressing everybody yet again on the

individual apparatus for them they have just finished the finals, he

got gold on the floor. Impressive stuff from a former world champion

yourself. His style and class and the skills he can do, good enough

for a senior team and since the -- age of nine. All-round competition.

Also gold in the team for the juniors. A superb junior gymnast.

Took gold on the parallel bars, Sobron the high bar and bronze on

the pommel horse. Not bad. They are both really talented. They will be

looking to move up into the senior ranks soon and on these couple of

pieces both of them are doing the routines ready for senior

competition. Didn't stop with the medal on the floor, silver on

vault,. Also a silver on the parallel bars but the man who is in

charge of making the all-important team decision for Rio is one of my

old coaches. You must be a man with a big

headache right now because Great Britain does have such a strong pool

of talent and you go to have to make a big decision about who to take on

the plane to Rio, how tough a decision will be for you? Probably

going to be the toughest decision I have had to take. I thought London

was bad when we changed the team from the European Championships at

that time but this time there are a few other guys still in the wings

and if you look at the situation and accommodations of scores, they all

have an argument to say I could count here, I could count their and

contribute to the team. It is by no means set in tablets of stone, the

team, all of them are well aware that you have to earn your place by

performance and results and from this competition onwards we still

have a couple of control competitions to do before

finalising. In your head, I'm not expecting you to reveal it, do you

have a team in your mind? I have about three! About three different

combinations of gymnasts that we could use and mix and match to make

the strongest team and the focus is on the team medal, that is what we

are really going for. If that works, we know that everybody who is on the

team would have done their best performance in the individual

results and they should look after themselves in terms of qualifying

for finals. The team is the priority. All the selection will be

about getting that strongest team. What a decision Eddie has to make

now. Regini-Moran is eligible for the seniors, when you take his

results into account, how will Gianni compare? Is there a chance

for him to be selected? There is always that chance. We have seen on

the vault, during this competition that he can mix it with the big

guys. His scores can win medals at senior worlds, it is amazing and on

the floor, seen him training senior routines and he would get up towards

a seven on the senior. Those apparatus alone could make the

final. That is how he does nearer the trials. There is potential for

her to be considered and to think about including him in one of the

three teams. Yes, the team is not set in stone.

At the European Championships they are out there to say this is my

case. Then you have some of the athletes who can say this is why you

need to pick me. Both the boys and girls selection, I would not want to

be making the team selection. We will keep on steam with the men now

and have a look at the contenders. Dan, you are still in there but

there's 13 names. We were talking yesterday, there is only five that

can make it. We can see Max Whitlock sitting out, being protected, but we

know Dan Purvis can go all round incredibly well. We have seen what

Kristian is capable of, in terms of mailing landings and so on.

Courtney, rings, it just goes on and on. Yes, that is what making us so

strong as a nation at the moment. We are all fighting for the same team

and it is making everyone better. Like Eddie said, there are three

different combinations of teams who could get similar scores and it is

down to who is most consistent within the trials and who he will be

able to rely on. How will he put pressure on them to know how he --

they will perform in Rio? It is going to be incredibly close. It is,

and when you are out on that world stage, you have Japan, China and

America coming into the mix as well. He will be putting them under

different scenarios, putting different teams together, seeing how

they perform as a team, because just as important as having that team

spirit. And obviously the consistency is the key thing. If

they can be consistent, the individuals will look after

themselves. How confident are you the team medal in Rio? I would like

to say because I seem to have a habit of jinxing things! Just forget

I even mentioned it! A reminder to Eddie that the clock is ticking now,

and something to get you all excited.

Jessica Ennis-Hill is back on top of the world! Nicola Adams has just

made history! Laura Trott, world champion!

Cannot wait! Anyway, P bars now and this is the only final without

British interests, which is surprising when you think that Nile

Wilson got the second highest the bars score in yesterday's

competition, just 0.2 behind the current world champion. Anyway,

let's have a look at who has made it.

Verniaiev will be the man to beat. Nagornyy, such a wonderful addition

to the senior Russian team, up from the juniors, 19 years old. His first

on the youth Olympics on this piece of apparatus. Lovely front

somersault, immediate pirouette. Very comfortable on the one rail.

Just had to fight a fraction there, and there is that little shuffle of

the hands. Good, confident work on to the one rail. Out with the Healy

turn, then the second Healy turn, but that was a bit short. With the

extra pirouette, just overcooked. This is the first time we have seen

this young man falter at all. He didn't set up very well before and

he had to take a step. He knew it was pointless trying to fight, and

off he went. He has really got a strong core. Super double front half

turn, very good dismount. A surprise, but at least we know he is

human! The first part of the routine was exceptional, and it was just

this bit where he lost momentum on the first one, which on nerve him.

His feet were out of line, then he was off the bars. 14.1, that will

do, considering. Oleg Verniaiev, looking to retain

his European title. Style and grace personified. Making sure everything

is absolutely right, he is set. Parallel bars masterclass. Smooth

into the handstand. Blocked out with straight arms, 21 bar. Hard fight

there. Nice and high, the amplitude, the flight there. Now look at that.

Healy turn, reverse pirouette. High in the front foot prize, nails

the landing. There was areas for the judges to deduct from, but surely,

surely the quality will win out in the end. Yes, he missed one of his

Healy moves from the one bar as well so his start score will be two

tenths down, which will make a big difference in the final.

We will have to see what the score comes out as. It is the highest

score so far, 15.700 and 16. Will it be enough?

What can he do here in the men's final on the parallel bars? There is

a big chance of a medal. Start straight into his under par work.

Held that just long enough. -- under bar work. Drop chute into

the front, semi-swing to handstand. Nice pirouette. Swing to handstand

on the one bar. Huge dismount to stick. He has got to go into the

lead with that. It had everything, such original work. Even to the

final dismount. I'm thinking, if he takes a step here, it might just

cost him but he absolutely glued that landing. His team-mates are

absolutely made up for him. Just watch on the replay the quality.

Locked out in the handstand, there you go, transfers into the

handstand, pirouette. Look from another angle. Directly over the

rail. But he hit 16 with this? Look at this dismount. Double front, half

turn... It is over 16! David Belyavskiy scores 16.0 33. Surely

unbeatable? It all calms down for Marcel Nguyen.

Former European double pommel horse parallel bars champion. And some

lovely original work. Super double somersault backwards. So flighty.

But that he didn't hold long enough. And everybody could see the legs

apart on the turn. But as for the speed, the flight and body shape,

absolutely fantastic. And what that dismount! Double back with full

twist. Really sensational dismount. That was very nice parallel bar

work. I think he gave a few too many hearts away to win but it was really

classy work. Probably the worst part of the routine for me was the long

swing. This is what they are looking for, the virtuosity. Not just doing

skills, but doing them with ease. 15.560 six. Nguyen inferred at the

moment. -- in third at the moment. This is Pablo Braegger. Unusual

start on the end, facing outwards. Slight step. Nice combination.

Really high tip out there, there will be no deductions on that. Healy

turn. Lovely handstand shape. Drop chute to the front Siamese. Missed

the swing to handstand, but covered it up well. Just a little bit off on

the handstand on one rail. Looks like he was fighting the whole way

through that routine there, then just run out of steam and came off.

He will be wanting just to finish this off nice and clean now. There

is the double pike. Such a shame for the guy. Yes, a lack of experience

now from this young team, starting to falter a little bit. This is

where the mistakes creep in, but they have had a superb

Championships, they should be immensely proud. He was slow getting

his shoulders up and over. The centre of gravity has to be forwards

to get up into handstand. Braegger's score is 13.933, he is in seventh.

Will this last gymnast push last year's gold medallist down into

third? He got the silver of last year's

Europeans. All this possible. Just a little bit edgy. These to be

settled. Works out. Think that was probably an escape route. Good

swinging, up to handstand, into the double somersault. Just all looks a

tiny bit rushed, there is a distinction between being fluent and

rushed. Nicely up into handstand. Settles a bit. The full the Healy

turn. Pushes back into the double pike, very nice dismount but that

was a bit of a rush, it all looked a little bit out of control. Going to

challenge Nguyen for bronze. Really good understanding of how the bars

work. It is a score of 15, Berbecar

finishes fourth Nguyen takes the bronze. But this final was all about

this man, David Belyavskiy takes gold for Russia. Confirmation that

David Belyavskiy with an enormous score. Takes the gold. Verniaiev

take silver and Nguyen back on the European podium with a bronze.

Certainly one of the gymnasts of the Championships. More sporting

highlights coming your way on BBC Two. The first is Rugby union. Seven

o'clock tonight and if you like your Olympics bought, fast and furious,

then look no further than the BMX track.

You think that is pretty full on, no helmets involved in the next piece

of apparatus, getting warmed up for the last final of the day, the crowd

pleasing, nail-biting high bar, one of the many pieces that during the

Commonwealth Games launched Nile Wilson high onto the senior stage.

What a moment! Was never in doubt. Absolute perfection.

I got chucked in the deep end, 18 years old, going from doing this to

the junior European competition to two months later competing in the

Commonwealth Games and that was a massive step and I managed to handle

it well and took a lot of confidence out of it. I performed really well.

I believe there could challenge on the senior circuit, so that moved

forward and made the team and had the final of my first World

Championships at 18, so it fills me with confidence and I am capable of

performing. It excites me and I loved every minute of it and it is

what I focus on. Tell us about her that experience. A lot of experience

coming to the world champion, this is my first Europeans and each time

you build and you learn being on this bigger stage, there is no

feeling like it and you get a buzz, the nerves, difficult to explain. To

put in the performances I have been doing at the World Championships and

things like that, hopefully I have a bright future in the sport, I am

only 20, a lot of years left and just really excited to move forward.

He is not here this week, but is he somebody you aspire to, Max, one of

the very best in the world. Definitely. All the GB team, we look

to Max, Louis, Kristian, what they have achieved and they have pushed

us forward and kept us fighting towards them and their achievements

are incredible and to get the opportunity to train with them on a

regular basis, for me as a youngster was incredible and we have always

wanted to be there and now I have your competing with them as

team-mates and brothers, it is awesome. Loving and relishing in

every single second of it. That kind of appreciation and excitement has

become a trademark. Some shots of him yesterday, look at the release.

The passion that he has got. He is such a player as far as far as the

six pieces of apparatus are concerned in the team, completed

every piece yesterday. A really good all-round gymnast and he has a lot

of pieces that can count in the team environment and it showed yesterday

how important he is. Is he in your three teams? I don't think he has

done himself any harm! Not nailing your colours to the mast. Let's talk

about parallel bar -- high bar, the blue riband event. As far as

routines are concerned, to give our viewers an idea of what makes the

perfect high bar routine. Dynamic, fluid, good accommodation between

release and catch moves and turns on the bar and you have to stick the

dismount connection is the key. To build up the difficulty you will see

a lot of turning elements going into the lease and catches but with his,

he has five big release and catches and coming from bars myself, I

watched the boys, I took a lot of my skills that are used to work in my

routine, I stole from them and some of the lads's coaches helped teach

me my skills. The key to the good release and catch? Apart from

grabbing hold of the bar, how do you spot it? You have to get enough

fight over the Barca you have the time to spot it and try not to catch

Timm Klose or too far away when you miss it. The top eight gymnasts

after qualifying. Cubicle, hang onto your hats and

call everybody round the TV, it time for high bar.

A chance for Great Britain's Kristian Thomas to get himself a

European medal. He got a third in the European Championships on high

bar in 2014 but he is joint highest qualifier. Told gymnast, works this

piece of apparatus well. Great flight. There is an catching it with

a full-time, very difficult work. Needs to settle in. The in bar

element which is required. Working well.

Squat half, very good, here is the catch. Straight. Straight on. Swing

out. Catch it, half term. Come on Kristian, keep this up. Needs to

nail the dismount. Winds up. Kicks high into the stadium. My word! Get

in, Kristian. Boom. He is in medal contention. This is the full-time,

full turn above the bar and then you have to read catch, yesterday he

came in close, today, much stronger. Really good work. Catching it with a

half-time and he didn't falter, on dead straight arms and went straight

up into handstand. Super height and shape, fantastic landing. I don't

think he could have done it much better than that to be fair. No I

think it is a exactly what is needed, should be in contention with

a medal. We are all very excited. Another six gymnasts to go in this

final, wrapping it up with Nile Wilson, who is another very good

chance, he has got the difficulty. 15 scored for Kristian Thomas. Beat

that if you can, the rest of Europe. This don't apparatus final today,

Baumann, the hardest working Swiss gymnast ever. LAUGHTER

He's got a 6.5 difficulty in the locker. He is able to challenge.

Nice and flighty. Little hesitation, snaps the legs together to make the

full pirouette. Here comes the big release. Full-time. Very nicely

done. -- full turn. One 1/2-time, little but wild with the legs. Bit

short on that squat dislocation, the half term was a bit off handstand.

One and a half pirouette. -- the half turn. Th so, clearly through so

far, kicks up high. Two twists and two somersaults, just a hot, tiny

little error. He has had a very good try indeed. Looking for high 14s,

waves to the crowd and thanks them for their support. What the European

Championships he has had. Can't do anything more now. Really good on

some of those elements, lots of high above the bar. There you can see,

that is with full twist. Winds up. Hi. Double twist and doublespeak.

That will be three tenths. Time will tell if that is enough.

Looking for high 14s four medals in this final. Verniaiev, silver on

parallel bars, the last bees of apparatus, been a very busy gymnast

today in the individual apparatus finals. Qualified fifth. Eau Claire

Market double of high 14 roll. -- qualified.

Catches half-time, catches well, shoulders extended in the swing out.

The squat half. A more difficult routine that we have seen. And he is

off. Went into the half turn didn't get his hand over the top,

completely off the bar, the second fall we have seen in this high bar

final. He is showing us that he has a lot more in the locker if he wants

to use it. Obviously in all-round competitions he goes for feeling

secure but there is a lot more to be seen from this young man. He has to

put these routines together if he wants to have a stab in this Olympic

title. Really impressed with this routine. Obviously without the fall.

Needs to finish off solidly. He has met all bookworms. The in bar. In

the straddle position. There is the full turn into the inverted grip.

Just needs the this man. Big clock jump on landing. Triple twist. Huge

dismount and you can see his plan for the all-round title as far as

the Olympics is concerned. He has got a lot to work on over the last

few months, but I tell you what, look out. He is not unhappy about

that, he wanted to go out and try that routine, that was obvious.

Didn't get the down bar, did he? Belyavskiy, just took gold on

parallel bars. The chance here to get a medal on the high bar. He is

man of the moment, let's see what he does here, lovely one arm swing.

Clean squat dislocation with half turn. Big catch. And with the half

turn, he swings beautifully, very light and fit. Full pirouette. But

you know there is a giant between each theme, links the two skills.

The secret is to put in the difficulty move after move. His

signature work. Very nicely done. And then the big dismount. Straight

with full twist, I really beautifully executed routine. He had

difficulty of 60 qualification and the judges on high bar are so harsh,

will be interesting to see, so far the execution scores have all been

in the sevens. It is so rare for us to see an execution score of eight

and nine, be very interesting to see if he achieves it because his work

is so clean. What about this dismount? Yes, he just floats it.

Goodness me, close as you like. Great Britain leading this men's

final. Pablo Braegger, the second of the Swiss gymnasts in this final.

Just two gymnasts allowed per country. They have been using their

quota beautifully. This is his second ever European high bar final.

Tall gymnast. Straight down to work. Winding up for something big. Great

extension on the catch. Straight catch, half turn. Cleanly out. Goes

the wrong way out to save it, that will be costly. Into another

straight catch here. Hop, one and a half. Squat full, connects...

Just a slight error at the start, can he hang onto the dismount?

Little adjustment on landing. Is it good? -- good enough? He had to

readjust, quick thinking to go back, but that is a big bonus. There is

some real potential there. He is in third at the moment, 14.760 six. 6.9

difficulty. Maras got a third at last years

Europeans high bars. This will all come to execution.

11 world and European medals in the locker. Can be a little

inconsistent. Let's see how he gets on today. Winds up the forward long

swing, this is original work. There is the double front half turn to

catch, known as the pagan. Good extension on the catch. A

little bit close. That has just cost him. Didn't get his hand on the

toggle over the bar. And yet again, inconsistency in this final. Very

long routine, Craig, I felt it was going on and on and he was just

collecting more deductions as he went. The first eight moves were

fantastic. 30 seconds to get back on the bar. A bit pointless now. He

will be out of the medals. He has got to finish off. Nice one arm

work. Such original high bar work. Just the dismount to go, winds up.

Kicks high into the dismount, slight adjustment on landing. Not to be

today. Not to be for Greece but a great day for Great Britain because

that confirms that we definitely have a high bar European champion

for the first time ever. Really? First-ever! The question is, is it

going to be Kristian or Nile? This is a story of what could have been

for Maras. For Great Britain, Nile Wilson, Commonwealth champion. Come

on, he says to himself. Can he beat his team-mate, Kristian Thomas, with

a score of 15? Well, can he control the adrenaline? That is the

question. Always determined. Watch the wind-up, full twist in the

straight, fantastic catch. Got another one coming. In the tuck

position, cleanly there. Now he needs to keep calm. Lovely one and a

half turn, shuffle along the bar. Squat dislocation, lovely. With the

half turn. Big straight catching. Full of difficulty, lovely style,

another struggle -- straddle catch. Pirouette. Concentrate... Great

landing! Well done, Nile Wilson. It is very good. Is it good enough to

go over 15? Whatever it is, Great Britain have two medals and a

definite European champion on high bar for the first time ever. What a

fantastic performance, that is so difficult work. There you can see

high into the straight catch, catching all the releases at full

extension. That gives the judges nothing to take off. Then wraps in,

double twisting double straight, spot the flaw, little adjustment on

landing. That is going to be close. Bearing in mind Belyavskiy is just

0.9 behind Kristian Thomas. Look at the score! 15.3, Nile Wilson is

European high bar champion and he makes history. It is the first time

ever. Look at that, what a moment from Nile Wilson, what a moment for

Great Britain. Get your name in the history books, young man. Absolutely

superb. One and two on the European high bar stage. There is a

leaderboard that will go down in history. Nile Wilson for Great

Britain takes gold, the first ever British European high bar champion.

Kristian Thomas takes silver, Belyavskiy bronze. Here they are,

receiving the medals. Kristian Thomas's best high bar achievement,

but Nile Wilson makes history and gets his name in the record books.

I cannot imagine there is a much better way to end your first

European World Championships as a senior? Definitely, you train your

whole life for moments like that and I loved every second of it. All the

better to do work alongside the team captain, and my brother who is

coming on to the senior circuit. I just want to thank everyone back at

home, the support they give is incredible. Looking forward to Rio,

let's do this. You had watched Kristian putting a big score, then

another gymnast starter, what was in your mind? I was just focusing on my

routine, I have hit it twice very well this week so I was focusing on

my potential. I knew I could do it. Trying to get about what other

people are doing and focus on myself. It did feel wobbly, I felt

the nerves, but I got through it and posted the score. I could not be

happier. Kristian, silver for you, you lead all the way. Was part of

you thinking, I hope he wobbles a little bit here. No, you want to be

competing against the best and you want to be able to beat the best,

and Nile did the cleaner routine today. Full credit, he stepped up,

last man. He has seen some scores in front of him so full credit to step

up and do the job the way he did. I suppose it is a good end to what has

been frustrating. Yes, it was frustrating but I had confidence I

could deliver my routines, and it is another take in doing that. This

week I have shown consistency, so for me I cannot be happier and I

have got to take the positives from that. Obviously then to crown it off

with the silver medal, next to Nile on the podium, I couldn't have asked

for a better finish. This man next to you already has all of the

medals, there is only one you are missing now, how good would it be to

get it and be selected for Rio of course? Incredible, and that is the

plan. Let's do this! He hasn't done his

chances any harm at all, superb. That will be in the selectors'

minds, how well he did. He stepped up and performed admirably. He did,

but just to see his face, listening to Kristian saying the things he was

about him, he seemed so happy and content. He said he was feeling the

nerves, so knowing he can control that on the big stage was a big

lesson for him. Definitely, when you go from performing in the team

situation to having to step up by yourself, I think it will have

calmed his nerves having Kristian alongside him. It is hard when you

have people falling alongside you. He knew he had one of the biggest

start values out there and could take the title. The fact he

controlled his nerves is good ahead of Rio.

Talking of looking ahead, we will be back next weekend with the women's

team and the individual European Championships.

Just looking ahead to that, how does the women's team compared? They have

definitely got a lot of medal chances. LA this year has had a

fantastic start to the year, in the World Cup she won all four

apparatus. -- Ellie. They are all pushing each other. With one week to

go, what will be the final preparations? They have flown out

there so they will be getting used to the environment, and podium

training will start on Monday, then the competition will go ahead on

Wednesday. There is a tough act to follow. We have had a great weekend,

and we do really hope you can join us then. Thank you for your company,

but listen, the British men and selectors now just have 69 days

until the gymnastics at the start of the Olympics. It is not long but it

seems our men are very much on target to peak. From our team, cheer

Rio. Commentary : That was a slip from

the horse. Get there, Kristian, boom! Nile

Wilson is