Crosby’s Daniel Purvis claimed a slice of history as he helped to win the first Olympic medal for a British men’s gymnastics team in a century as GB took bronze, after controversially being denied silver.
Daniel, competing at London 2012 alongside Louis Smith, Sam Oldham, Kristian Thomas and Max Whitlock, had thought silver was secure in the Men’s Team Final at the North Greenwich Arena, but a protest by Japan proved successful.
Japan appealed against their final mark awarded in the artistic gymnastics and they were restored to second place from fourth, pushing Team GB into third, but Purvis was still delighted with the unexpected outcome.
The 21-year-old told BBC Sport: “To be honest, if someone had said before the competition that you are going to come away with a medal you would have been buzzing, so just to get a bronze is a dream come true for everyone. I don’t feel too bad about not getting a silver… just getting a bronze is absolutely amazing.”
For Team GB’s men, without a gymnastics medal since a bronze in 1912, it had been something of an achievement just to make the final, and they admitted a top five finish was their original aim.
Cheered on by a raucous and passionate crowd, including Olympic legends Sir Steve Redgrave and Denise Lewis, as well as Princes William and Harry, the British gymnasts excelled themselves, with Merseyside’s Purvis having to compete in all six disciplines.
The event, comprising the pommel horse, high bar, parallel bars, still rings, floor exercise and vault, was won by defending Olympic and world champions, China.
Ukraine, who believed they had finished with a bronze, left empty-handed following Japan’s appeal.
Purvis, who trains at Southport YMCA, has the chance of further glory as the three-time British all-around champion is competing in the individual events.
Liverpool John Moores University graduate Beth Tweddle has qualified for the women’s gymnastics uneven bars Olympic final on Monday August 6th as she aims to bow out with the only medal she has missed out on in her glittering career.
Tweddle showed her support for the men’s gymnastics team after they claimed Team GB’s third medal so far at London 2012, describing it as “an absolutely amazing achievement” on Twitter.