Midlands gymnastics star celebrates double European gold

Gymnastics hero Joe Fraser admits he’s rarely felt better after landing double European gold.

The former Sandwell College student claimed the fourth and fifth continental titles of his career in Zagreb, following up Saturday’s superb win on the horizontal bar by helping Great Britain to victory in the team event just 24 hours later.

Fraser also claimed a bronze medal on the parallel bars and at the age of 27 is producing some of his best-ever routines.

The two-time Olympian took a break from the sport following Paris 2024, during which he opened his own gym in Lichfield.

Fraser is also expecting his first child with his partner and said: “Those things have helped me have some perspective, when I am actually training and competing.

“That is what has helped me with my comeback. We are just trying to reap the rewards now. It is a case of train hard, compete harder.”

Fraser nailed a fiendishly tough routine to score 14.3 and claim his first major championship title on the horizontal bar.

He followed it with bronze on the parallel bars, the same apparatus on which he became world champion eight years ago.

Fraser was then joined by Courtney Tulloch, Harry Hepworth, Jonas Rushworth and Sol Scott as the GB men defended their European crown.

“This means everything,” he said. “It’s about consistency in team competitions, fighting through routines, pushing till the end and that’s exactly what we did.

“I’m unbelievably proud of each and every member of this team. It got close towards the end but we held our nerve and were absolutely delighted. The team competition is the big one and we’ve won it again, which is incredible.”