Louis Smith - one of the favourites in Madrid

Louis SMITH (GBR)
in GYMmedia INTERVIEW

The 2008 Olympic Bronze medallist on pommel horse, the 19 year-old British gymnast Louis SMITH from Huntingdon Gym Club, is one of the favourites for the title in the World Cup Final on this apparatus this weekend.
In the absence of the Chinese Olympic champion Xiao Qin he will be battling against the European champion and Olympic silver medallist Krisztian BERKI and the European No. 3, Robert Seligmann from Croatia.

GYMmedia correspondent Nico Tandel visited the home club of Louis Smith, the Huntingdon Gym Club, and spoke with the young British star, who won Britain's first ever Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics last summer ...

Huntingdon GYM Club
The only gymnastics club in the UK to win an Olympic medal in 80 years has said it is at breaking point because of cash shortages.
** ... a TV report about the Huntington Club and Lousi SMITH
>> by BBC Television

Louis SMITH (right), 19 year-old bronze medallist after winner Xiao Qin (CHN) and Filip Ude (CRO; left)

** GYMmedia exclusive:
Interview with Louis Smith, Huntingdon Gym Club
--- by Nico Tandel for GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL
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GYMmedia: -- Hi Louis, I’m sure this is not your first or last interview after the Olympic bronze medal in Bejing and after the world cup silver medal in Glasgow this autumn!
Louis: " ... definitely not, this Olympic medal is the first one in England’s history in artistic gymnastics! It is an amazing feeling which is difficult to explain. Being able to represent Great Britain was fantastic but then qualifying for a bronze medal was mind-blowing!"

GYMmedia: -- How the reactions of the environment have been after your return from the Olympic Games?
Louis: "People in my hometown want autographs and pictures and they see me as a hero and a role model and its all a bit overwhelming. I have got lots of letters from overseas – people wanting my autographs. This is quite difficult because I don’t have that many photographs of myself."

GYMmedia: -- Has anything changed for you since then? Have you found sponsors to fund your professional gymnastics career?
Louis: "For sure things have changed. More people recognise me. I have made a number of TV appearances as well as advertisements and being a guest at various functions but I have not been signed up by any sponsor yet. But I’m hoping for something to happen in the future."

GYMmedia: -- One thing I’ve noticed: you got roughly 200 kg of pasta sponsored to give you enough power to perform your pommel horse routine all the time. Who gave this to you?
Louis: "A man by the name of Peter McDermott from the company 'Food Network Ltd.' gave me a year’s supply of pasta and I’ll be getting it for the runup to London 2012!"

GYMmedia: -- How are things going now in your sporting career? What are your next aims?
Louis: "I got back into training again some weeks ago and I've been preparing for the World Cup Final in Madrid just recently. My next aim is to qualify for the Europeans at the beginning of next year in Milan, Italy."

GYMmedia: -- Earlier in an interview with Daniel KEATINGS, your club mate and best gymnast of the Europeans 2008 in Lausanne, I heard that your club is already planning a new gym due to the large number of gymnasts here, and in particular with regard to London 2012! When will this gym get to be built and is the club still in need of more financial support?

Smith and Daniel Keatings (right) with their coach Paul Hall at the World Cup in Cottbus 2008.

Louis: "Yes we are planning to build a new hall because we are very crowded in this one and we would like to have better facilities to offer more activities for the many young people out there who want a safe environment in which to learn new skills. We have put in for a grant for money from the Lottery fund and we will know in February whether we were successful or not. In the meantime we have started working on smaller changes at the gym – like building a new reception area and giving us a new road to access the gym via a more commercial road."

GYMmedia: -- At the beginning of November I had the pleasure of judging at the British Championships in London. I must say the level is very high, including in the junior field. Can you explain this development in British artistic gymnastics?
Louis: "We have a group of very dedicated, experienced and committed coaches who are working very hard and this is beginning to show results."

This was the victory ceremony in Cottbus in March 2008 ... and now, Madrid:
... maybe there will be the same constellation as at the World Cup in Cottbus, or could it perhaps be different ...??
(2) Smith, (1) Berki, (3) Seligman...?

GYMmedia: -- At these British Championships Luke FOLWELL from Huntingdon won the silver medal in the all around senior competition and in addition several medals in the apparatus finals. Therefore in the men’s field alone, three of the British team members come from Huntingdon. Do you engage in any rivalry?
Louis: "We are friends first and we all encourage each other especially in team events. But in an individual competition we go all out for ourselves in the hope of winning whatever title is up for grabs."

GYMmedia: -- This can also be noticed, the fantastic atmosphere here in the hall among the gymnasts and also with the coaches makes you to feel comfortable.
Louis, thanks a lot for the nice interview.
On behalf of Gymmedia INTERNATIONAL I wish you and your club mates a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Good luck and best results for your sporting aims, especially now at the world cup final in Madrid!

* Nico Tandel, Huntingdon, for GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL