GB gymnasts' progress is 'momentous'

BRITISH gymnastics is in rude health as the London 2012 Olympics approach after "momentous shifts in performance" which should see the sport's established elite take notice.

Daniel Keatings won a first major championship title for a British male on Sunday with gold ahead of team-mate Louis Smith in the pommel horse at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Birmingham.

Smith's silver was Britain's second of the weekend after taking team silver on Saturday, while Daniel Purvis won bronze in the floor event on Sunday.

The women – led by world champion Beth Tweddle – begin their bid later this week.

British Gymnastics Olympic performance director Tim Jones was thrilled with the men's displays. "It's difficult in gymnastics terms to put into words the transformation of our results," he said.

"Senior team-wise, we haven't made the final before and we were second this time round – you don't often see those sort of momentous shifts in performance, particularly in a judged sport where you have to prove your worth."