Keatings makes history with all-round silver - News - LIVING SPORT

Keatings makes history with all-round silver

Daniel Keatings made Men’s gymnastics history by winning Britain’s first-ever medal in the all-round event at the World Gymnastics Championships held at the O2 Arena last night.

The Huntingdon Olympic Gymnastics Club gymnast had originally qualified fourth for the final, but a stunning display saw him achieve a score 88.925 to take the silver.

Keatings, a finalist in Beijing just over a year ago, began with a nervy start on the floor where he twice received a penalty for steeping outside the area, but settled for a solid start. A score of 15.500 in his pommel horse, in which he excels, saw Keatings showing that he could challenge for a medal.

A controlled rings performance was followed by an impressive display again on the vault, and a skilful routine on the parallel bars put Keatings safely in second behind Japan’s world champion Uchimura.

The crowd erupted after the 19 year olds safe landing following a composed performance on the high bar, which ensured he had made history in beating Neil Thomas’ British record performance in finishing 16th at the 1994 World Championships.

Britain’s Kristian Thomas also helped Keatings consign the previous record to history by finishing 6th in the all-round event.

Keatings’ club coach Paul Hall, who is at the World Championships as part of the British set-up, was ecstatic at seeing his gymnast claim history in taking World silver and will be hoping for a similar feat from another of his pupils, Louis Smith, in the pommel horse final tomorrow.

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