2014 European ChampionshipsMay 20, 2014 by Becca Reed
Great Britain Looks to Defend European Title
Great Britain Looks to Defend European Title
Great Britain’s senior men aim to defend their European title and are considered favorites going into the team competition. The qualifications begin Wednesday with the juniors and continue Thursday with the seniors. This junior team final is Friday the 23rd and senior team final is Saturday the 24th. The event finals for both juniors and seniors are on Sunday the 25th.
Olympic team bronze medallist Sam Oldham says he is in good form and high on confidence going into this week's competition. Sam took European high bar silver last year.
“My form is really good, it’s been a nice slow build up as I have lots of new routines but I seemed to have timed things nicely and my consistency is on a high at the moment, so I’m in a positive mind-set and really looking forward to competing. It’s always a challenge to get the balance between difficulty and consistency. At the start of the year you always have to look at what you can do to up your game and then make those changes as solid as possible and I feel I’ve done that. I’m feeling fit and healthy and in good shape."
"The team is so well prepared and we know we have strong workers on all pieces of apparatus and can all contribute to the team, first and foremost the team is the target and to defend our European title. Come the end of the year for the World Championships I was to be winning medals, I’m really looking forward to a big, big year.”
2012 Olympian and established team member Kristian Thomas explains his and the teams goals for the competition. Kristian took vault bronze at the World Championships last year.
“I’m feeling really good going in to the championships as are all the lads, so we’re in good shape. To go in to these championships as favourites still feels a bit weird, when I first began gymnastics that wouldn’t have been the case but what we have a achieved as a group over the last ten years means we are rightly seen as amongst the best and that gives us all confidence. There is a bit of pressure as people expect great results but we're all experienced and know how to compete in big competitions."
“I’m feeling really good going in to the championships as are all the lads, so we’re in good shape. To go in to these championships as favourites still feels a bit weird, when I first began gymnastics that wouldn’t have been the case but what we have a achieved as a group over the last ten years means we are rightly seen as amongst the best and that gives us all confidence. There is a bit of pressure as people expect great results but we're all experienced and know how to compete in big competitions."
"We have a very strong team and it’s good to get out there at the start of the year as a marker for the World Championships to come and put pressure on other countries. All the British lads are looking at the year as a whole, stay away from injuries and look to put in the best performances we can at these championships, the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships later in the year.”
The British senior men – Kristian Thomas, Sam Oldham, Max Whitlock, Daniel Keatings and Daniel Purvis- begin their campaign on Thursday 22nd May with their qualification round whilst the British juniors look to take their fourth straight team title when the championships begin Wednesday 21st.
Release via British Gymnastics.