Commonwealth Games: Ice cool Wilson flys high to all-around gymnastics title

It was a dramatic men’s all-around final that went right down to the wire – and that is just the way Nile Wilson likes it, writes Charlie Talbot-Smith on the Gold Coast.

With the pressure on in the Gold Coast – only one fortieth of a point (0.025) separated the top three heading into the final apparatus, the high bar.

And Wilson produced a stunning routine that is becoming his calling card and to secure his second Commonwealth Games gold in two days, after team success on Thursday.

It could have been easier for Wilson – the standout all-around men’s gymnast at these Games.

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But he is struggling with a left wrist injury that limits his pommel horse routine – and at the halfway stage he was down in third.

Wilson’s compatriot James Hall and Cyprus’ Marios Georgiou were out in front but by the time the final of the six apparatus arrived – Wilson’s speciality after his bronze in Rio two years ago – the 22-year-old knew what he needed to do.

“It’s incredible for it to come down to the wire on the last piece with the three of us in the mix,” he said.

“I smiled my way through it and hit the bar routine I knew I could, and it’s a great feeling to have a Commonwealth gold medal round my neck.

“Obviously my score was a lot down on the pommel horse because I’m not doing the full routine because of my hand, but it was enough. We were steady all the way round and I came alive on the last two rotations.

“It’s difficult to not be aware with the big scoreboard and the crowd, but for me it’s that feeling when I land that high bar dismount and I roar and the buzz I get I do it for that.

“That’s all I’m thinking about when I’m in that pressurised environment. The experience here has been up there with my best ever.

“I knew what I needed to do towards the end but I take it my in my stride and I smile. When it’s my time to stand up on the podium and do my bar routine it’s like, come on then guys, watch me, it’s my turn, and I love every minute of it.

“Being in that arena soaking up the atmosphere looking for my parents in the crowd, fist-bumping, it’s what I’m about and how I get through and love every second of the competition and I’m sure it shows.”

It is raining medals for English gymnasts in the Coomera Sports Centre, Wilson has two golds already while Hall ended up with silver to go with his team gold.

And there should be plenty more to come – including a re-match in the high bar apparatus final – as the duo are in three individual finals each next week.

And with Kelly Simm and Alice Kinsella both going for gold in the women’s all-around later – it can only get better.

Incredible

“We have had an incredible Games and the gymnastics so far has been unbelievable. More to come over the next couple of days and we’re going for all of them,” added Wilson – who won three medals including a team gold on his Commonwealth debut in Glasgow four years ago.

“It’s different now I feel like I enjoy it now. Back in Glasgow I was 18 and didn’t know what to expect and probably went pale white when I came out with nerves.

“Now I can just go out there and enjoy it and that’s what I focus on, just the process of doing the best gymnastics and getting the buzz.”

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