Olympics dreams for Huntingdon gymnasts
HUNTINGDON gymnasts Daniel Keatings and Louis Smith are both a step closer to that Olympic dream after booking their places on the GB World Championships team which will compete in Tokyo at the end of September.
Keatings, 22, put an 18-month injury break behind him by competing well over six apparatus to take the all around silver medal with a score of 90.5 at the British Championships in Stoke last weekend.
Louis Smith worked well on three apparatus, qualifying for the masters event on parallel bars and pommel horse.
Despite a shaky routine on the first day, Smith maintained composure to perform a world class pommel routine on Day two to score 16.05 and take the Masters title.
The two gymnasts now have a few days back at their Huntingdon base before more friendly Internationals with France and Spain, and then the long flight east to help their GB teammates in their quest for a top right finish and guaranteed selection for the London Oympics 2012.
Head Coach Paul Hall said: “This weekend marked the end of a difficult period of rehabilitation for Dan Keatings. He has proved that he is back and ready to compete at the highest level.
“Louis’ pommel routine is acknowledged as having the highest difficulty rating in the World and if he can continue to perform it at the highest levels he stands a great chance of a memorable result next year.”
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It was also a good weekend for Irish International, Luke Carson, who enjoyed a great all around event in preparation for his trip to Japan for the World Championships next month.
Carson, currently based at the Huntingdon gym scored 83.35, the tenth highest score, as well as qualifying for the parallel bars final and finishing fifth in that event.
