Competitions, 2024

I flew directly from Doha to join the team in Rimini, Italy as Apparatus Specialist, whilst feeling I was back to form on all pieces. 

I qualified for both the Floor and Vault finals in 2nd and 6th spots with scores of 14.766 and 14.4 respectively - on Vault I landed my Double Front Half which was really positive. 

In the Apparatus finals I was last up on Floor with Artem Dolgopyat Olympic and World Champion having posted a big score of 14.833 to beat.  I posted a 6.5 difficulty and knew I needed to go clean, so quite a bit of pressure as well as being defending champion. I secured a score of 14.866  retaining my title and becoming the first British male artistic gymnast to retain a European apparatus title. 

The Vault final was a great experience which I have learnt from for next time. I retained my 6th spot, happy to have put out some good vaulting.

I was now back to form and I qualified for the Floor Final in 2nd spot and in the Final won Silver with 14.566.  On vault, I competed double front half, the first time in a while and pleased with my performance whilst my hand touched the floor, this gave confidence.  

Whilst in Doha I was selected to the European team as Apparatus Specialist with Max Whitlock injuring himself in training. This would enable me to defend my European Floor title.  My confidence was back!

In early 2024, I struggled with illness and injured my ankles following a short landing on Floor. This was very frustrating, as at the English and British Championships, I was not able to show my true ability, in particular on Floor where I fell during both routines. 

At the English I posted a score of 80.150 which included the fall on Floor which had a deduction of 1.6 points. I won a silver on vault and at the British Bronze.  On Rings at the British I qualified for the final in 3rd scoring 13.650 behind Harry Hepworth and Courtney Tulloch, in the finals secured 4th spot.  

I wasn’t selected initially for the Europeans based on my form at the English and British, but could feel by mid April I was getting back to real form in the gym at Leeds. The impact of the illness on my endurance had gone and ankles recovered.  I guess all part of gymnastics however frustrating, but trusted the process and didn’t give up. I was selected to compete at the Apparatus World Cup Doha whilst reserve for European team.