Ruby Harrold misses out on medals in Glasgow

Glasgow is becoming a happy hunting ground for Britain’s Ruby Harrold, and even if she did not add to her Gymnastics World Championships medal haul last night, the 19-year-old insists the experience will help her ahead of next summer’s Olympics.

Russian gymnast Seda Tutkhalyan competes on the balance beam in the women's individual all-around final at the Hydro in Glasgow. Picture: AFP/Getty

Harrold, who was part of the women’s all-around team that won bronze on Tuesday – their first ever medal in that event – could not recreate those heroics in the individual all-around final at the SSE Hydro.

Harrold earned herself gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and she opened up this time with an impressive 14.533 on the uneven bars to see her into eighth spot after the first rotation.

But she then faltered on both the balance beam and floor, before a solid final vault gave her a score of 14.633 to end her competition in 22nd place, with America’s Simone Biles and Gabrielle Douglas claiming gold and silver.

“To be honest I’m quite disappointed with my performance after being on such a high for the last few days,” said Harrold.

“The main aim for this competition was to qualify for the Olympics and we did that on the first day, then to walk away with a bronze medal on team final was completely unexpected.

“Coming into today was always going to be a big challenge for me to get focused and get my head down to concentrate on this competition.

“Unfortunately it didn’t go completely to plan; I started off well on the bars and then came off on the beam.

“Everything else was a bit all over the place and not as I would have liked, but after the other night this competition was just going to be a bonus.”

In qualifying for the all-around final over the weekend, the British team booked their spot on the plane to Rio, offering Harrold the chance to make her Olympic bow. She was the reserve for the London 2012 all-around team that finished fifth overall.

Amy Tinkler was also in action last night and after celebrating her 16th birthday by claiming team bronze earlier in the week she too could not find her best form in the individual event.

It was a steep learning curve on the night for Tinkler, who fell on the uneven bars and the beam before she found some rhythm on the floor and finished strongly on the vault.

Her total score of 54.098 left her 23rd out of 24, but at such a young age she admits just getting to the final was a good achievement.

“I didn’t have the best bar routine or the best beam routine if I’m honest because I fell on both pieces,” she said. “It’s my first championships where I have had to do three days of competition so it is just about getting experience for the future. I was disappointed with the start but my coach kept reminding me that even if you come 24th you are the 24th best in the world and that is incredible.

“That’s my first all-around final in any championships so to come out there and give it everything gives me so much valuable experience.”

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