Gymnast Reuben Ward eyes more history after GB selection

“To have achieved that was really special because I wrote it down. I’d see it every day, because it was right next to my bed, and I feel like it spurred me on to work harder.

“Another goal for me was to make the worlds team and, while on that team, for us to qualify for the Olympics by finishing on that podium as a team.

“The main goal for our delegation is to come away with a medal, be on that podium and qualify for the Olympic games. For all of us, that’s the goal, but for me as well that’s the main priority.”

Ward, born in Manchester to Scottish parents, also won a silver medal in the pommel horse at the home games this summer.

Despite that all-around gold at the Commonwealths, it is unlikely we will see Ward taking on that event again at the upcoming competition in the Netherlands.

“I don’t believe I’m doing all-around this time,” Ward revealed. “Which I did at the Commonwealth Games.

“Jake Jarman and Joe Fraser are going to be doing all around and, in order to prioritise the team, it would be better for me to do some of my other stronger apparatus just so we can give the team exactly what it needs. Anyone who knows gymnastics knows those two are fantastic all-rounders.”

Regardless of what events Ward ends up competing in, he is confident of achieving the team’s goal of a podium place.

“The team we’ve got is incredibly strong,” he said. “I think it’s one of the strongest teams that Great Britain has maybe ever seen. We can’t wait to get out there and show the world who we are.

“I think sometimes people maybe count out Great Britain a little bit and underestimate us, but we’ve agreed as a team that that kind of spurs us on a little bit.

“We love to prove people wrong. I think we just can’t wait to show what we can do and the level we’re competing at, prove ourselves on the world stage.”