Olympic bronze medallist Sam Oldham headlines a six-strong Great Britain men’s artistic gymnastics team for the 2017 European Championships in Romania, later this month.
Taking place in the Cluj-Napoca from April 19-23, the European Championships represent the first major international competition since Rio 2016 for Britain’s gymnasts.
Selectors have gone for a young team with the majority of last summer’s history-making Olympic male gymnasts taking an extended break following Rio.
Oldham is the most experienced having competed at London 2012 where he won bronze as part of the men’s team.
British all-around champion Joe Fraser makes his senior major championship debut, although he is no stranger to representing Britain having appeared at the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival where he took the all-around crown.
He is joined on the team by British all-around silver medallist James Hall and his club teammate and rings star Courtney Tulloch, as well as British floor champion Frank Baines and vault champion Dom Cunningham.
But while a relatively inexperienced team, British Gymnastics head national coach for men’s artistic gymnastics Eddie Van Hoof insists success is still on the agenda.
“As the first European Championship of the new Olympic cycle this competition gives the unknown a chance to become known,” he said.
“Our British team members are relatively young and inexperienced in such events and this affords them the exposure to compete against Europe’s best and measure their progress. There are a number of medal opportunities for the taking.”
Sportsbeat 2017