Gymnastics: Smith aims high

Smith: Feeling the pressure

Despite what result I get, if I do my job, I can walk away with my head held high

Louis Smith
Quotes of the week

Olympic bronze-medallist Louis Smith has admitted he is feeling the pressure to do well in front of a home crowd at the Gymnastics World Championships in London.

The 20-year-old is one of the favourites for the title on the pommel horse at the O2 Arena following his Beijing success last year.

Peterborough-based Smith secured Great Britain's first individual Olympic medal in gymnastics for 100 years and the two men who took gold and silver will be absent from the championships in London.

Surrounded by high expectations, Smith has revealed that there will be a definite sense of failure if he falls short of the podium.

"The general public would be disappointed. Any time I jump on the pommel horse, my main goal is to do my routine clean," said Smith.

"Despite what result I get, if I do my job, I can walk away with my head held high."

Smith, who participates in qualifying this week, also revealed he has extra incentive to win after the death of his grandmother.

"I'm no longer just doing this for myself, my nan recently passed away," said Smith.

"I've been working with a new routine with a high start score - and we'll see what happens."

Venue

Smith also commented that the O2, which will also host the gymnastics event at the London Olympics, is a venue for Britain to be proud of.

"The arena's spectacular and amazing. It is one of the best I've been to in the world. Just to be part of it is a big step," he said.

"I'm looking forward to doing well and a good competition.

"The crowd is definitely going to help, walking in front of thousands of fans is going to help.

"I'm a little bit nervous, I don't want to let anyone down."

Smith faces British and Huntingdon club team-mate Daniel Keatings, who finished 20th in the all-round final in Beijing, as a rival for a medal in the pommel horse.

The 19-year-old finished third, a place behind Smith, on the pommel horse at the European Championships this year and the Olympic medallist insists there is a good rivalry between them.

"Dan is a good competitor but this is an individual competition," said Smith.

"I wish him all the best, but I hope he doesn't do too well. But it's not just Daniel who is out to get me."

Even in the absence of Olympic champion Xiao Qin of China and Croatian silver medallist Filip Ude, Smith knows he needs to be on top form to get on the podium.

"Everyone saw me get the bronze in Beijing and they see the World Championships as an easier competition," he added.

"So there's a lot of expectation for me to improve on bronze."