Britain's medal rush continued today as gymnast Beth Tweddle won bronze in her final Olympic Games.
At 27 she became the oldest athlete in more than 50 years to win a podium place in the uneven bars event, banishing memories of the Olympics four years ago where she finished a disappointing fourth.
For the triple world champion, who had keyhole surgery to her knee only four months ago, it was her first Olympic medal.
Tweddle mounted a strong challenge to eventual winner, 17-year-old Aliya Mustafina of Russia, with a stunningly intricate routine. It earned her whoops and gasps from a huge crowd as desperate as she was for success.
Just as in Beijing, a stumble in her dismount cost her valuable points. But this time, her execution score of 8.916 was enough to keep her in the medal places and put the final touches to the most extraordinary gymnastics career in British history.
When the result came through, Tweddle draped herself in the Union Jack. Mustafina got gold and He Kexin, 20, of China won silver. Tweddle was the only competitor in the final not to have been born in the Nineties.
Following Tweddle’s success at the North Greenwich Arena, Britain remained third in the medals table. Officials have high hopes of breaking the post-war record set in Beijing four years ago with almost a week of sporting action yet to unfold.
Tweddle’s father said his daughter “just keeps getting better” even though she is a relative veteran.
Jerry Tweddle said: “She just keeps stepping up. Even though she’s 27 she just keeps getting better. Obviously we’re very, very proud, but it’s sort of crept up on us bit by bit.
“She’s absolutely at her best at the moment, she’s doing the toughest ever routine she’s ever done.”
Mr Tweddle, 58, a business manager at a plastics company, cheered Beth along with wife Ann, son James and Beth’s boyfriend, Steve.
He added: “It’s not her first final but it’s something she’s worked for over the last four years. She came fourth in Beijing and said that’s not good enough and that she wanted to give it another go.”
Tweddle’s success continued Team GB’s remarkable gymnastics renaissance at London 2012.
Yesterday, her team-mates Louis Smith and Max Whitlock won silver and bronze in the men’s pommel horse.
Competing in her third Olympic Games of a career that includes three world championships and six European titles, Tweddle was already Great Britain’s most decorated gymnast, for which she was awarded the MBE in 2010.
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Despite her grand age, she had begun her final as home favourite ahead of 16-year old American Gabby Douglas and 17-year old Russian Victoria Komova, the reigning world champion on the bars.
Douglas and Komova won gold and silver respectively in the all-round individual and team events at these Games.
