Nile Wilson became the first British athlete to win an Olympic medal in the high bar as he claimed bronze to cap a sensational Games for Team GB’s artistic gymnasts at Rio 2016.
The 20-year-old put in a superb performance to score 15.466, bettered only by Germany’s Fabian Hambuechen, who took gold with 15.766, and Danell Leyva of the USA who took silver with 15.500.
Wilson’s medal came less than an hour after 16-year-old Amy Tinkler, the youngest member of Team GB at Rio 2016, claimed an historic bronze medal in the women’s floor final.
The two bronzes on the final day of gymnastics competition for British athletes at Rio 2016 moved Team GB’s total in the sport to seven – six for the artistic team and one for the trampoline team.
“It is difficult to put into words how I am feeling right now,” Wilson said. “I have loads of emotion and I certainly let it show up there on the podium.
“Everyone knew it was tears of pride and tears of happiness. My family were out there in the stands balling their eyes out and I think that set me off.
“It is a dream come true. It is something you train your whole life for and you dream about wearing these medals around your neck."
“I just went out there and focused on my potential, my gymnastics, my high bar routine and forgot about everything else that was going on around me.
“It wasn’t the best routine I could have done but it was a routine and I’m so happy to have a medal. It is incredible.
“It is the seventh medal for British gymnastics and it has surpassed all expectations. I want to thank the whole nation for getting behind us and supporting Team GB.
“Watching all these medals from the likes of Max [Whitlock] and obviously Amy [Tinkler] just before me, it was just inspiration after inspiration.
“I saw them winning medals and started to believe that I could do the same. I hope this inspires more young people to take up the sport.”