Three Midlands gymnasts qualify for team final

Great Britain's Louis Smith competes on the Pommel Horse during the Artistic Gymnastics team qualification Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Three gymnasts from the Midlands helped Great Britain's men's team put on a stunning performance to qualify for their first Olympic men's gymnastics team final in 88 years.

Louis Smith from Peterborough, Kristian Thomas who was born in Wolverhampton, and Sam Oldham from Keyworth in Nottinghamshire, were part of a five-man that finished 3rd behind the United States and Russia.

Smith broke down in tears after he produced a magnificent pommel horse routine which scored 15.800 - the best of the day by some margin. That result helped Britain finish with a total of 272.240 points, ahead of both Japan and world and Olympic champions China.

An emotional Louis Smith after completing his Pommel Horse routine Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Four years ago Smith ended Britain's 80-year gymnastics Olympic medal drought with a bronze medal in Beijing. The 23-year-old will now compete in Monday's team final and the pommel horse final next Sunday.

Kristian Thomas will also compete in the vault final after finishing fifth overall with a score of 15.983.

Wolverhampton's Kristian Thomas in action Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire
Nottinghamshire's Sam Oldham competes on the parallel bars Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

The United States topped team qualifications ahead of Russia and Britain with Germany, Japan, China, Ukraine and France completing the final line-up.

Great Britain's Kristian Thomas, Louis Smith and Max Whitlock wave to the crowd following the Artistic Gymnastics team qualification Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire