Team GB announce men's artistic gymnastics squad for Tokyo 2020
Max Whitlock will compete at his third Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020, while James Hall, Joe Fraser and Giarnni Regini-Moran make their debuts
Artistic Gymnastics
The British Olympic Association has named two-time Olympic gold medallist Max Whitlock, world parallel bars champion Joe Fraser, current British all-around champion James Hall, and 2021 European medallist Giarnni Regini-Moran to their Tokyo 2020 artistic gymnastics team.
This will be Whitlock’s third Olympic Games and he will be aiming to make British artistic gymnastics history once again. At London 2012 he was part of the team that won bronze – the first artistic gymnastics team medal for Great Britain for 100 years – and at Rio 2016, he won Britain’s first-ever Olympic gold medals in artistic gymnastics, first on floor, then moments later on pommel horse.
“To think this will be my third Olympic Games is very surreal,” said Whitlock. “We have a great team and I’m really looking forward to going to Tokyo, one of my favourite destinations, with them. Sport is something that is so powerful when it comes to bringing people together, creating conversation and bringing out people's passions so I’m hoping this will be an event to do just that, in a time where I believe we have never wanted that more.”
For the rest of the team, it will be their first Olympic Games. World parallel bars champion Joe Fraser, is thrilled to be named in the squad of four. "I’m very excited to be selected for my first Olympic Games. I’ve been training since I was five years old for this opportunity and now I just can’t wait to get out there and compete with teammates I’ve known my whole life and show the world what we can do."
Giarnni Regini-Moran, who won Youth Olympic Gold in the all-around in 2014, suffered a near career-ending injury just prior to Rio 2016. "For me I think it means even more after injury in 2016, all that hard work, grit and determination that goes on into coming back and now to have that rewarded with the biggest sporting event on the planet is a dream."
"My main emotion is pride," said James Hall who has been training for this moment for 19 years. "To compete with my best friends, guys that have been through the same journey as me and to represent the country on the biggest sporting event on the planet, it's an incredible achievement in my eyes and I can't wait to do our country proud.”
The artistic gymnastics event at Tokyo 2020 starts on 24 July 2021. The Team GB women's artistic gymnastics team announcement will take place in early June.