Keatings Wins Silver in Commonwealth Individual All-Around Final
Keatings Claims Scotlands First Ever Individual All Around Medal At A Commonwealth Games
Daniel Keatings has secured another historic first for Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Games, an Individual All-Around medal, adding to the first ever Men's Artistic Team Silver won yesterday.
The Scottish Gymnast finished in 2nd with a score of 88.298 behind Max Whitlock (England) 90.631. Nile Wilson, also of England, was 3rd with 87.965.
Daniel Keatings said,
"It feels amazing, especially because of how much I have been plagued being by injury. I haven't done a major international all-around for over 2 and a half years now. It's great to come back here do the all around and get a medal in front of a home crowd."
Daniel spoke of how this competiton has exceeded all his expectations coming into the event,
"Oh yeah definitely. I came here hopefully to get a team medal, we got a silver. I was hoping to come in the top 5 all-around and I came 2nd, so everything is just a bonus at the moment. I don't think I will ever forget this."
Scottish Gymnastics chairman Scott Harper commented,
"Daniel's individual all around silver medal marks the greatest ever achievement for a Scottish gymnast at a Commonwealth Games to date. I wish to congratulate Daniel Keatings on behalf of everyone at Scottish Gymnastics, he can be incredibly proud of this historic success."
There was pain for team mate Daniel Purvis who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, finishing in 4th place with a score of 84.865. Frank Baines placed 6th with a score of 82.356.
MEN'S ARTISTIC INDIVIDUAL ALL AROUND FINAL ROUND UP
After joy in the team competition, three of the Scottish team returned to the Hydro to compete for medals in the individual all-around final; Daniel Keatings, Daniel Purvis and Frank Baines.
On the first rotation of the day, Daniel Purvis got the competition underway on floor. It was a very strong start by Purvis delivering a well executed difficult routine to score 15.300, which he was visibly happy with. Frank Baines followed suit with another steady performance scoring 14.633. Daniel Keatings was last to go and replicated the form of his team mates to produce a score of 14.800, completing a superb start for the Scottish contingent.
The men were full of confidence as they moved to the second rotation of the day, pommel horse. However a slip by Frank Baines meant he came off the pommel, leaving him with a score of 12.825. Just like team mate Baines, pommel horse finalist Daniel Purvis had an uncharacteristic fall leaving him with a score of 12.833. The standout performance of this rotation for the Scottish team was delivered by Daniel Keatings who produced an outstanding routine packed with difficulty to score 15.533 and put the disappointment of coming off the apparatus in qualification behind him.
A steady rings display by Daniel Keatings got the Scottish team off to a great start scoring 14.100. Daniel Purvis also delivered a solid routine scoring 14.400. The last performance of this rotation was from Frank Baines who went through cleanly scoring 13.966, leaving all three Scots high up the score board.
At the half way stage of the competition the Scots were looking strong and in contention for at least one individual all-around medal. Daniel Keatings sat in 2nd (44.433), Purvis in 4th (42.533) and Frank Baines in 8th with a score of 41.424. Max Whitlock (England) lead in first position with a score of 46.065. Fellow countryman Nile Wilson was in third place with a score of 43.066
As the Scottish gymnasts moved on to their fourth rotation of the competition, vault, Daniel Purvis was the first to go. A slight step on landing the only blip in a strong routine scoring 14.666. Southport team mate Frank Baines went up second and a unfortunate fall on landing left him with a score of 13.900. Once again a confident Keatings delivered a well executed performance scoring 14.333.
The penultimate rotation saw the Scottish team compete on parallel bars and they were in a confident mood with all three gymnasts capable of posting strong scores on this apparatus. Daniel Purvis led the charge for the Scots and delivered a score of 14.200. Fellow parallel bar finalist Frank Baines also delivered a confident routine ahead of tomorrow's individual final scoring 14.066. Once again Keatings, who was continuing to grow in confidence as the competion drew to a close, delivered a high score of 14.766.
The fight for a podium finish came down to the final piece of apparatus high bar, with both Daniel Keatings and Daniel Purvis in with a chance of securing an individual all-around medal. Daniel Purvis went first, started strongly but lost his gripping however did recover well finishing his routine and his all-around competition with a textbook "stuck" landing and a score of 13.466. Just like on pommel, Frank Baines also made an uncharacteristic error on high bar scoring 12.966. With an all-around medal up for grabs Keatings stayed focused and put in an excellent routine scoring 14.766, securing a historic first ever individual all-around medal for Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Games.
Final Placings
2nd: Daniel Keatings = 88.298
4th: Daniel Purvis = 84.865
6th: Frank Baines = 82.356