GB’s Hepworth takes historic bronze in vault

Harry Hepworth became the first British man to win an Olympic vault medal with bronze in a high-quality final in Paris.

Hepworth's score of 14.949 bettered that of compatriot and reigning world and European vault champion Jake Jarman (14.933), who finished fourth.

The Philippines' Carlos Edriel Yulo secured his second gold of the Games (15.116) having topped the podium in the floor event on Saturday, while silver went to Armenia's Artur Davtyan (14.966).

Hepworth, 20, was second to compete and was left with an agonising wait to find out if those following would jump above him on the scoreboard.

Jarman went third and clung on to the bronze-medal position until Davtyan, who vaulted last, finally pushed him off the podium.

The pair had already made history by becoming the first GB men to qualify for an Olympic vault final, after Hepworth also became the first Briton to reach the rings final, where he finished seventh (14.800).

Earlier, Becky Downie – competing at her third Olympics – finished seventh (13.633) in the uneven bars final after falling during her high-difficulty routine as Kaylia Nemour secured gold (15.700) to win Algeria’s first ever gymnastics medal.

American gymnast Simone Biles just missed out on qualification for the uneven bars final, the only apparatus she has not made the final in. She will go in the beam and floor finals on Monday having already won individual all-around, team and vault titles.

Jarman won bronze on floor on Saturday and was expected to add another medal on his favoured apparatus but Hepworth, competing at his first Games, sprung a surprise with two consistent vaults which scored highly for execution.

Jarman, 22, posted a higher degree of difficulty for one of his vaults but was punished for two slight steps on landing.

As the youngest member of Great Britain's men's Olympic team, who finished fourth in the team final, Hepworth has shown immense promise at this Games having also reached three apparatus finals in his first World Championships last year.

At the age of five, Hepworth was diagnosed with Perthes disease – a condition that effects the hip joint – and was unable to participate in any sport for three years. But a visit to his school from gymnastics coach Craig Richardson inspired him to take up the sport.

His condition means one of his legs is four centimetres shorter than the other. But Harrogate-born Hepworth has said he thinks it helps him with his twisting skills.

He stated before the Games that his ambition was to one day be Olympic champion in the rings, but he beamed on the podium as he received his vault bronze after showing he is capable of excelling on more than just one apparatus.