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

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

Fraser, the 2019 world champion on the parallel bars, has endured a testing few years with injury after miraculously overcoming a broken foot to grab a hat-trick of Commonwealth golds in Birmingham and shoulder surgery last year to compete at his second Olympics.

He now looks set to compete in both the team and all-around finals and believes battling through adversity helped him enjoy the moment in front of a packed-out Parisian crowd.

“I've had a rocky rollercoaster ride just to be here, so I didn't feel that much pressure,” he said.

“When I was on the way to the gym my mum messaged me to say 'good luck'.

“I told her I was doing it for everyone at home but she said this Olympics was for me - I've come this far and it's about enjoying this one.

"I'm really proud, the team just gave it our all and really put our necks on the line.

"When it's a team event, I really enjoy them so much, getting behind all the other guys performing. I don't get that same enjoy

for competing individually.

“I've known some of these guys since I was ten years old.”

It’s easy to forget that Fraser remains just 25 years of age, a down-to-earth athlete with two world, six European and three Commonwealth medals all 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 in Tokyo.

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

And he has been joined by Leeds stars Whitehouse, 22, and Hepworth, 20, who both also performed admirably on their big stage Olympic debuts.

Fraser added: "I feel like it was only two minutes ago I was the newcomer on this team.

"We've got 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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