Gymnasts Credit Teamwork for Commonwealth Bronze
Scotland’s men’s artistic gymnastics team won bronze on the first day of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
It was a challenging day for the Scots after a “shaky start” and then they lost Kelvin Cham to injury and were chasing a podium place throughout.
However, the team stayed strong and every member and contributed to their success, as they explained afterwards when they were exhausted but still buzzing! This is what they said.
Dan Purvis:
“It’s an absolutely great feeling to come away with the team bronze after a shaky start. I’m really proud of the boys as we fought back after the vault with three pieces to go so to come in third place on the podium was really unbelievable.”
“I’m unbelievably proud of this team. We dug deep at the end there. It wasn’t over until the last person was on the floor with Frank finishing things off with a fantastic routine. We started with one or two hiccups but I’m just proud of everyone, how much we fought and how we got back there.
“It was hard to get back on that podium after Glasgow with a different team, but we’ve done it and its fantastic and it’s all credit to these guys, and the Scottish Gymnastics programme and it’s a fantastic programme.”
Kelvin Cham:
“I’m just happy after the shaky start on pommel I’m happy for the lads as we pulled through even though I couldn’t quite do the stuff I wanted to do. But today wasn’t about me, it was about the team. The team performed really well and we showed what we can do.
“We weren’t thinking about Cyprus, we were thinking about what we could do. I was proud watching the last routines as I knew what we were are all capable of in training but I was nervous watching! I knew we could do it, but seeing them do it was even better.”
David Weir:
“I’m over the moon. We came here with a job to do, to get a team medal and we did that. All the hard work we’ve put in has really paid off. We’ve put in hours and hours in the gym and it’s amazing.
“After a shaky start on pommels, I didn’t think we could do it. I’m just happy with my performances. I did four from four and we had good strong performances from the whole team. It was definitely a surprise to be doing parallel bars at the last minute, but we’d been preparing the routines in the gym and I’d do anything for the team.”
Frank Baines:
“I’m really happy to have the bronze medal alongside such a great team. We like to cut it close and we took it right down to the wire. Coming off floor, it is our best piece of apparatus and we finished strong there after our shaky start on the pommel, but you win some, you lose some! It was tough, I was really tired at the end and watching the other three guys smash their routines on the floor, I thought, I can do this. It’s a brilliant feeling.
“Credit to Kelvin for being here in the first place after his injury at the British and it was a real hard graft for him over the last couple of weeks. To be here today and do a rings dismount, is absolutely fantastic. And for David to fill in on parallel bars after Kelvin got injured, he’s the real MVP today. It’s just a brilliant feeling. All the lads put in the work, Dan the team captain, led us all the way, and Hamish, the young gun was brilliant today and I think he got the highest score and it was fantastic work.”
Hamish Carter:
“I feel we completely deserve it. We worked so hard throughout the last year and throughout this year. We have only been together a handful of times but we work so well together. The fact that David could fit in for Kelvin when the team needed him most, is testimony to how good a team we are. The true hallmark of our team is that we came back on floor and pulled back all the little mistakes we had in the competition, and pulling together was what ultimately got us our medal.
“This is my first Commonwealth Games and I’m very, very happy to come away with a team bronze. A team medal was our primary goal, and to have secured a place on the podium, I feel so proud of every single one of us. All the hours we’ve put in together and knowing that on the day it matters, it’s paid off. That I’ve stood on the podium with a handful of my friends is even better.”
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