Tweddle’s stunning display heads home heroics

Beth Tweddle produced a breathtaking uneven bars routine and took a huge step towards claiming what would be her first Olympic medal as Great Britain’s women gymnasts powered into the team final.

The three-time world champion set the North Greenwich Arena alight with a world class performance, brimming with style and complexity, to score a huge 16.133 – putting her in top qualifying place after the third of five sessions. Britain also secured their place in tomorrow’s team final, replicating the efforts of the men’s team on Saturday, with a score of 170.656.

Tweddle’s routine had a 7.0 difficulty score and a huge 9.133 execution score – the largest of the day by some distance.

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“I was unbelievably nervous,” Tweddle said after qualification.

“I’ve felt sick for the last three weeks.

“My coach said to me: ‘Just do what you do in training’ and I just thought to myself: ‘This is the one moment, and I just have to live for it.’

“I spoke with Louis [Smith, who qualified for the pommel horse final] on Saturday and asked him how he felt and he said: ‘It was great but I was so nervous’ and I just thought I’m in the same position as him.

“I can remember every moment of that routine and normally I can’t.”

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Tweddle’s final tilt at an Olympic medal – the only thing missing from her impressive collection – looked like a dream that had slipped away three months ago after she underwent keyhole surgery on her left knee.

However, the 27-year-old never gave up, and after months of rehabilitation and continuing to sleep with an ice machine strapped to her leg to minimise the threat of further problems, she will compete in the final on August 6.

Great Britain’s men’s gymnastics team had put on a stunning performance and exceeded all expectations to qualify for their first Olympic men’s gymnastics team final in 88 years.

The five-man team of Smith, Daniel Purvis, Kristian Thomas, Max Whitlock and Sam Oldham finished third behind the United States and Russia, booking themselves several places in individual finals in the process. Smith broke down in tears after he produced a magnificent pommel horse routine which scored 15.800 – the best of the day by some margin – which helped Britain finish with a total of 272.240 points, ahead of both Japan and world and Olympic champions China.

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It was an outpouring of sheer emotion from the usually calm and composed Smith, who ended Britain’s 80-year gymnastics Olympic medal drought with a bronze medal in Beijing four years ago. The 23-year-old will compete in today’s team final and the pommel horse final next Sunday.