Olympic build-up eases first-day nerves for Birmingham’s Joe Fraser

The 25-year-old Birmingham gymnast joined forces with Max Whitlock, Jake Jarman, Luke Whitehouse and Harry Hepworth to book her place in Monday’s team final at the Bercy Arena.

Fraser, the 2019 parallel world champion, has endured an injury-plagued few years after miraculously overcoming a broken leg to claim a hat-trick of Commonwealth gold in Birmingham and shoulder surgery last year to compete at his second Olympics.

He now looks set to compete in both the team and overall finals and believes battling the odds has helped him enjoy the moment in front of a packed Paris crowd.

“I went on a rollercoaster ride just to be here, so I didn’t feel as much pressure,” he said.

“When I was on my way to the gym, my mom texted me to say ‘good luck.’

“I told her I was doing it for everyone at home, but she said the Olympics are for me – I’ve come this far and it’s about enjoying it.

“I’m very proud, the team gave everything and really put their necks in the game.

“When it’s a team event, I really like them, being behind all the other guys playing. I don’t get the same pleasure.

to compete individually.

“I’ve known some of these guys since I was ten.”

It’s easy to forget that Fraser remains just 25, a down-to-earth athlete with two world, six European and three Commonwealth medals to his name.

But it’s that prestigious Olympic gong that still eludes him, with Fraser, Whitlock, James Hall and Giarnni Regini-Moran narrowly missing out on the team bronze medal in Tokyo.

The British contingent has undergone a significant refresh in the three years since, with the precocious Jarman catapulting himself into the equation with an astonishing four gold medals at Birmingham 2022.

And he was joined by Leeds stars Whitehouse, 22, and Hepworth, 20, who both performed admirably on their Olympic debuts.

Fraser added: “I feel like just two minutes ago I was the newcomer to this team.

“We have three new Olympians and I can’t believe how comfortable they looked.

“They attacked things like they do in training.

“We just focused on putting out our best work and I’m proud of each and every one of us.”

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