More on KentOnline
Maidstone gymnast Courtney Tulloch says he brings “the firepower to the team” after adding men’s rings gold to his Commonwealth Games team gold.
Tulloch, 26, showed exactly why he was the reigning Commonwealth champion on the rings with an exemplary performance, which saw him score 14.400 to finish top of the podium again.
He says he is proud to have become a quadruple Commonwealth Games champion on home soil in Birmingham having already won two golds and a silver on the Gold Coast, Australia, in 2018.
“I bring the firepower to the team,” he said after Monday's success. “In the team event, my job was to score as high as I could on the hoops, so I’m happy I did that.
“Today, this was personal - rings is what I do. To come away with gold and be a double Commonwealth champion on the rings is something I’m very proud of.
“We want to make history this year.
“I’ve always believed in myself, I know what I’m capable of. They always said to me rings is a bit of an older man’s game and I feel I’m coming into my ‘man strength’.
“I truly believe I keep getting better.”
He says he wasn’t too fussed about his score - simply focusing on ensuring he finished on top.
Former Pegasus Gymnastics Club star Tulloch said: “As long as the podium’s right, it is what it is.
“I’m only focused on the gold today, I wasn’t too fussed about the scores. This [medal] is the most important thing.”
Arena Birmingham has been packed for every session and English gymnasts have rewarded the home fans by dominating.
“This group is so competitive, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Tulloch said.
“We push each other every day. If you come in our gym and see what we’re like in training, we try and beat each other every day.
“I’ve been trying to beat Jake [Jarman] and Giarnni [Regini-Moran] on vault, Joe [Fraser] is always trying to beat me on rings.
“That just pushes us to new levels.”
The Commonwealth Games will continue until next Monday.