• Gymnastics World Championships

Thomas secures GB's first vault medal

ESPN staff
October 7, 2013
Kristian Thomas joins Yang Hak-Seon and Steven Legendre on the podium © Getty Images
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Kristian Thomas earned Great Britain's first ever medal in the vault at the World Gymnastics when he took bronze in Antwerp on Sunday.

The 24-year-old finished with an average score of 15.233, behind South Korean Yang Hak-Seon (15.533) and American Steven Legendre (15.249).

"Three weeks ago I didn't even know if I'd be coming to the Worlds," Thomas said.

"It's been a real rollercoaster of a year. Three weeks ago I was still battling to try to get into the team. To nail the first vault the way I did was so special.

"To make the final was the first aim, so I'm over the moon. I'm really happy and proud."

The result comes just 24 hours after fellow Briton Max Whitlock missed out on becoming Britain's first male gymnastics champion when he was pipped to pommel horse gold by Japan's Kohei Kameyama.

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