Louis Smith ‘over the moon’ at Glasgow 2014 place

Three-time Olympic medallist Louis Smith and newly crowned European champion Max Whitlock will lead a 13-strong England gymnastics team at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next month.

Louis Smiths decision to return to training in January has paid off with his selection for Team England. Picture: Getty Images

Smith, who returned to training in January this year with the specific intention of making the team for Glasgow, expressed delight at his selection.

He said: “I’m over the moon to have been selected for the Commonwealth team.

“This is something I’ve worked so hard towards since the end of last year and it’s testament to my coach and everyone around me who have given me the support to get to this point.”

Fellow Olympic medallist Whitlock beat Olympic pommel horse champion Krisztian Berki to win European gold in Sofia last month. Whitlock said: “Every­thing comes down to getting that clean routine on the day but I’m training hard and hopeful that Team England will achieve great things in Glasgow.”

The men’s team includes ­Olympic medallists Kristian Thomas and Sam Oldham, plus five-time junior Euro­pean champion Nile Wilson.

The women’s artistic team is led by double Commonwealth Games medallist Rebecca Downie, who is joined by Claudia Fragapane, Ruby Harrold, Hannah Whelan and Kelly Simm. Stephani Sherlock, Mimi-Isabella Cesar and Lynne Hutchinson will all compete in the rhythmic gymnastics competition.