Thomas should feel only pride - Bradley (From Dudley News)

Thomas should feel only pride - Bradley

12:49pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Sport

KRISTIAN Thomas’ coach says the Halesowen gymnastics star should feel only pride for his Olympic exploits.

The 23-year-old’s London 2012 experience ended on a low-key note last night as he could finish only eighth in the vault final.

Thomas, who anchored the British men’s team to an historic bronze earlier in the Games, was downcast after a mistake on his second vault ended any hope of glory.

But coach Michelle Bradley says Thomas should be proud of what he has achieved over the past two weeks.

She said: “When I spoke to him last night I think he was a little bit disappointed.

“I think he was worried people will remember what happened yesterday rather than what happened before.

“But I’m not disappointed in him and he shouldn’t be either. He should feel nothing but pride.

“I think when he gets back to the Midlands, back to the club and sees his friends and family again he will realise just what he has achieved.”

Thomas has sent the partisan crowd at the North Greenwich Arena with a stunning first vault which scored 16.366.

But a messy landing on his second attempt pulled down the average mark and left him out of contention, with Korea’s Hak Seon Yang eventually taking gold in a contest packed with top quality gymnasts.

A vaulting error also cost Thomas a medal in last Wednesday’s all-around individual final and Bradley admitted to some frustration at how things had turned out.

She added: “It’s just a shame he couldn’t have pulled off his first vault yesterday in the all-around final, then he would have got an individual medal.

“But the vault really is split-second stuff and he knew his second vault had to be perfect.

“Even then he might have struggled to get a medal.

“It was the best vault final I have ever seen. Some of the vaults they landed were almost impossible.”