Bailey ready for the road to 2016 - starting at Europeans

Posted: Tuesday 14th February 2012 | 11:42

GYMNAST Nathan Bailey might have narrowly missed out on starring at London 2012 but he believes his Olympic journey has well and truly kicked into action.

BOUNCING BACK: Nathan Bailey is determined to reach the 2016 Olympics after preparing himself to miss London 2012

At just 18 Bailey was always facing an uphill battle to reach the capital this summer in trampolining, going against athletes much older than himself.

But that didn't stop him from giving it his best shot, defying his young age to finish seventh in the synchro at November's World Championships in Birmingham alongside Luke Strong.

The top eight in the individual event would have qualified a gymnast for London but with the synchro not an Olympic event Bailey and Strong's efforts went unrewarded.

However, with the men's team in general aiming towards the Rio Olympics in four year's time, Bailey reiterated that he could be centre of attention in South America, despite having to sit London put.

"Because my pathway was always working towards 2016 the London Olympics were always in the back of my mind," said Bailey - who benefits from support from the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes scheme.

"I wanted to give it a go as that was the only way to approach it but the good thing is that myself and my partner Luke Strong are only 18.

"We are the youngest on the international circuit by about five years so we are quite inexperienced.

"Coming that close does give you a boost because coming that close the first time round should give us a really good chance of getting there at Rio.

"The stuff I was doing in training in the run up to the World Championships would have easily put me in contention to get to London 2012 if I had got it right.

"I am just going to work on my consistency now up until 2016 and keep going up and up and up until we get there."

Before Bailey can even think about Rio he has the small matter of the European Championships to contend in Moscow this April.

And with the trials taking place in Bath this month Bailey knows he has to keep his foot on the pedal, even if he is heading into the unknown.

"There are always short-term competitions which I need to focus on like the European trials in Bath that I have got coming up," he added.

"I am confident ahead of the trials, training has been going well. At the Euros myself and my syncho partner Luke Strong are going to be going for the gold.

"I haven't done a senior Europeans before but I have done junior ones and they went well and after the year I had last year I am confident a gold is a real possibility.

"Coming that close to an Olympic spot and having it just taken away I want to make sure I do well at the Europeans."

Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 344 emerging athletes all the way to London 2012 and beyond. Follow the future stars of TeamGB and ParalympicsGB at: www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes