Max Whitlock may have stolen the headlines when it came to gymnastics at this summer’s Olympic Games, but Nile Wilson made his own bit of history in Rio – becoming the first Team GB star to win an Olympic medal on the high bar with bronze.
But before he had even started his routine, Wilson – this year’s European champion – had already written his name in the record books, becoming the first British man to even qualify for the high bar final.
And he wasn’t about to disappoint.
Having earlier placed eighth in the all-around final, 20-year-old Wilson – making his Olympic debut in Rio – entered his high bar final with confidence at an all-time peak, with not a doubt in his mind that he would be flying out of Brazil with a medal to declare.
Starting third in the final, he immediately moved into second place with his routine, scoring 15.466 to sit behind Germany's Fabian Hambuchen in gold medal position as they watched the rest of the field take to the apparatus.
He remained in the silver medal berth until Danell Leyva of the USA, the last to go in the eight-man field, overtook him with a score of 15.500.
But while he came agonisingly close to being one step higher on the podium, Wilson did not care for the colour of his Olympic medal, a lifetime’s dream accomplished just by having one placed around his neck.
“It is difficult to put into words how I am feeling right now – it’s a boatload of emotion and I certainly let it show up there on the podium,” Wilson admitted, speaking in Rio.
“I am an emotional guy, I find it difficult to bottle up. Everyone knew it was tears of pride and happiness and I think everyone back home would have probably started crying when they saw me go.
“This is something you train your whole life for, to get these medals round your neck.
“I just went out there, focused on my potential, my high bar routine, and tried to forget about everything around me.
“It wasn’t the best routine I could have put out there but it was a routine and I am so happy to have got a medal.”
Sportsbeat 2016