OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Smith and Whitlock win pommel two-three

By Sean-Paul Doran, Sportsbeat, London 2012

GREAT Britain’s Louis Smith paid tribute to rival Krisztian Berki after the Hungarian beat him to the London 2012 men’s pommel horse gold in the narrowest of fashions.

TWO-THREE: Louis Smith and Max Whitlock push Team GB's gymnastics medal tally up to three in the home Games

After Berki posted a huge 16.066, Smith could only replicate the two-time world champion’s score and his lower execution total saw him take silver instead, ahead of fellow Brit Max Whitlock in third.

And despite missing out on Olympic glory on home soil by the slimmest margin, 23-year-old Smith insists there is no shame to coming second to the Hungarian.

He said: “We’re great rivals but we’re good friends. If I was going to be beat by anyone apart from Max (Whitlock), Krisztian Berki is that guy.

“He will go down as one of the greatest pommel horse workers ever and the fact that I came second to him is something to be proud of.”

When securing a bronze pommel medal in Beijing, Smith became the first British man to secure a medal in the event since 1908, and had been tipped to win gold as he posted the highest qualifying score.

A flawless performance from 23-year-old Smith, who became the first British male gymnast in over a century to win an individual Olympic medal with bronze in Beijing, sent the crowd into raptures as it seemed he had done enough to secure gold.

But the Hungarian’s execution score of 9.166 was enough to better Smith’s 9.006 and despite the Brit posting a better score for difficulty, Berki secured Olympic glory.

Teammate Whitlock secured third place after producing a terrific performance to take 15.600, including 9.000 for execution, to add to his bronze from the team final.

And Smith, the captain of the men’s gymnasts who secured the first team medal since 1912, admits that he may have struggled with the weight of expectation on his shoulders.

“It was very tough. Being a British athlete in the home Games is very nerve wracking, especially with the build-up that we’ve had over the past couple of years,” he said

“It was hard to come out into this final and the crowd roaring and two excellent scores that had gone before me so it was a tough job.”

Whitlock produced a terrific performance to secure a score of 15.600 to cap off a dream London 2012 campaign with his second medal.

And the 19-year-old, tipped as one of British gymnastics’ brightest prospects, admitted he was surprised to pick up another medal.

He said: “It was basically whoever went out there and did the cleanest routine would get a medal, Louis did a great job and I’m very happy to get a medal.

“I have two bronze medals now, this is unbelievable. It's crazy. I didn’t think I would get one so to come home with two is an amazing feeling.”

© Sportsbeat 2012