Last week, Wolverhampton’s Kristian Thomas and former student of St Edmund’s Catholic Academy, won Great Britain’s first gold medal at the European Gymnastics Championships in Montpellier.

The 26-year-old scored 15.166 with a clean routine on the floor to secure his first international individual apparatus gold.

His tumbles were hugely powerful and importantly well controlled, with only the smallest hops on landing for the judges to deduct points.

He put in a super routine under pressure to record a huge points haul and take top honours, his first major championships individual title.

He was elated afterwards, saying: “It’s amazing, I’m absolutely over the moon.

“I’ve never won a floor medal at a major championships, but I knew the routine I had was consistent and I was in contention.

“I was so nervous watching the other scores come in, to win gold is incredible.”

Photograph is courtesy of The Express and Star