Tweddle dominates on bars but is then floored

But yesterday she fell short of a third consecutive floor title.

The 26-year-old Briton, competing last on Saturday in the bars competition, scored 15.100 with a brand new routine to take victory at the Artistic Gymnastics European Championships.

The triumph added another title to Tweddle’s collection to go with her bars successes in Birmingham last year and in Milan in 2009.

Tweddle said: “The main feeling coming off is relief. I knew what I needed to do and although it wasn’t perfect it was good enough.

“I had a long wait to compete and hadn’t even touched the bars for an hour so I was very anxious to get going.

“In the qualification I had noticed that I was slipping on the mat at the beginning so this time we chalked them which helped me grip and be in the perfect position to start.

“I am really happy that I have put my new routine out there and come away with the gold medal.”

Russia’s Tatiana Nabieva claimed silver with a score of 15,075, while Germany’s Kim Bui won bronze.

Russia’s Aliya Mustafina, who had been one of the favourites, pulled out of the finals after injuring her left knee on Friday.

The 16-year-old world all-round champion suffered a torn cruciate ligament after a botched landing in the vault.

Tweddle went in search of an unprecedented three in a row in the floor yesterday with lowered expectations following a calf injury which recently forced her to miss a week’s training.

Her pragmatism proved well- founded and she could only manage fourth place.

In the men’s floor, Dan Purvis had problems landing his last tumble and had to settle for 14.400 and seventh place.

Kristian Thomas fared rather better to end the week with a 15.300 and fourth spot.

On pommel, Louis Smith, competing a high difficulty routine, slipped after a great start and fell, finishing sixth.

Sam Oldham, like Tweddle, was also just outside the medal places, finishing fourth in the men’s competition on his first appearance in a senior major championships.

After becoming the first British gymnast in nine years to reach a beam final, Hannah Whelan could only finish eighth.