Don't rule out more Thomas glory says coach (From Halesowen News)

Don't rule out more Thomas glory says coach

5:30pm Sunday 5th August 2012 in Sport

HALESOWEN gymnastics hero Kristian Thomas has been backed to finish his Olympics in style.

The 23-year-old, who helped Britain to an historic bronze in last Monday’s team final, will bid for more glory in tomorrow’s individual vault final at the North Greenwich Arena.

Michelle Bradley, who has coached Thomas at Earls Gymnastics Club for nearly two decades, says a second medal cannot be ruled out.

She said: “Kristian is going into this final with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“He’s definitely capable of nailing the vault as we’ve already seen and if he does, he will be right in contention.”

Thomas completed stunning vaults in qualifying and the team final, the second of which scored 16.550 – still the highest mark awarded any vault at the Games so far.

But an error in last Wednesday’s individual all-around final, when he stumbled while trying to land an intensely difficult vault, dropped him out of medal contention.

Bradley added: “The vault is so tough because you just don’t get the time to correct mistakes like you do in other routines.

“But it is still Kristian’s best piece and I’ll be there watching and praying he lands it.”

Thomas was in attendance at this afternoon’s individual pommel horse final, sitting next to the Duchess of Cambridge as he watched British team-mates Louis Smith and Max Whitlock snare silver and bronze respectively.

Tomorrow’s vault final gets underway at 3.40pm and you can follow the action on our live blog.