Kristian Thomas tells of his talk with Kate

Most men can only dream of sitting next to a future queen at the world's most famous sporting event.

But Wolverhampton Olympic bronze medal-winning gymnast Kristian Thomas today revealed what it was like to strike up conversation with the Duchess of Cambridge at London 2012. He had been asked to keep the seat next to him free for the Royal.

The 23-year-old from Wednesfield, said: "She came to watch the pommel final mainly so I was explaining the gymnastics and pommel to her. She was quite enthusiastic about it and really enjoyed it.

"She came the other night to watch the team competition and was back again. We might see her back in the crowd.

I tried to put on the posh voice. She was a normal person to talk to, she made it very easy because I was getting a bit nervous thinking 'what are we going to talk about?' She came over and started talking and was very easy to get on with.

"At the time I was the only male gymnast in the area where she was coming to sit so I was explaining the pommel horse to her and what was good and bad.

"It wasn't as nervous as competing in front of that crowd though. I've said it before there are so many different emotions, nerves, adrenaline and butterflies. The crowd have been amazing, they have got behind the whole of British gymnastics and the whole of Team GB."

Kristian, who trains at the Earls Gymnastics Club in Halesowen, missed out on a medal in the vault event yesterday but his fellow club members said they were proud of his efforts. More than 50 gathered for a third time to watch him compete on television, after seeing him scoop a bronze in the team contest a week earlier.