New men's parallel bars world champion Joe Fraser admitted it was a dream come true to claim top spot on the final day of competition in Germany.
The 20-year-old had qualified for the final in third place but produced a stunning routine to score 15.000 and finish ahead of Turkey’s Ahmet Onder and Japan’s Kazuma Kaya in second and third respectively.
It was already a historic day for the Birmingham gymnast who was competing in his first individual apparatus final, and Fraser continued to break records by scooping the top gong, becoming his country’s first ever parallel bars world champion.
After wowing the Stuttgart crowd with a brilliant execution of the most difficult routine of the eight competitors, Fraser went straight to the top of the ranks with four gymnasts to go.
And after enduring a nervous wait for his victory to be confirmed, he was overjoyed to have added to GB’s gold medal tally a day after Max Whitlock had triumphed on the pommel horse.
“It’s doesn’t get any better than this,” he said. “I had hopes of getting a medal, but gold is crazy.
“The parallel bars is a really close event and it can go any way. I just wanted to go out there and produce the best routine I could. “During the routine I was just taking it one step at a time, and after the dismount I knew it was going to be a close one.
“I was really nervous waiting for the other guys to do their thing, but I’ve worked really hard in this event and it’s paid off in the biggest way. It’s unbelievable to be able to call myself a world champion!”
Earlier in the day, compatriot Dom Cunningham finished fifth in the men’s vault final, recording two scores of 14.566 to end within striking distance of the podium.
Cunningham was competing in his second apparatus final of the competition after he finished eighth in the floor final, and the 24-year-old believes he can continue to go from strength to strength.
He said: “I did half a twist less than I wanted in my first vault, but overall I’m happy. I’m fifth in the world in amongst an incredible field so I’ve got to be over the moon with that.
“I’m super motivated now looking ahead and I know I’ve got plenty more to give.”
GB finish a successful championships with two gold medals, one silver and one bronze, while both the men’s and women’s teams achieved quota places for next summer’s Olympic Games.
Sportsbeat 2019