Tulloch is our Lord of the Rings
Olympic disappointment propelled Courtney Tulloch to success at the European Championships. Pegasus gymnast Tulloch won Britain’s first-ever rings medals at a major tournament when he took silver in Romania at the end of last month.
The 21-year-old felt he should have been in Rio last summer but after missing the cut, he’s raised his game again.
Tulloch said: “I feel like missing out on Rio has helped me a lot.
“In training I’m doing things I never thought I’d be doing.
“I’m pushing myself so much harder, to levels I never thought I could reach. It was frustration, anger, I didn’t quite understand it.
“That was my dream since I was a little kid so I felt all that hard work, why hasn’t it paid off?
“My friends and family helped me get through that and I just got back in the gym and used all that frustration. I’ve been getting better and stronger and fitter.”
The Euros were the second major championships of Tulloch’s career, having finished sixth at the World Championships three years ago.
To be the first British gymnast to win a medal on rings added to the occasion. Tulloch said: “That’s something else. “It’s hard to get your head around, to think no one’s ever won a medal on rings before, and we’re a pretty successful country at gymnastics.
“I just want to keep making more history and keep winning medals.
“It makes me really happy and proud.”
Tulloch has the World Championships in Canada in September, followed by the Commonwealth Games in Australia next April.
Strong performances will keep him on track for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
He said: “The Olympics is in the back of every athlete’s mind but there’s big competitions before that which I need to deliver at, starting with the Worlds and then there’s the Commonwealths, which going to be a big one in Australia.
“If those two go well there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be out in Tokyo.”
For Maidstone to produce two European medallists is a major achievement and it’s down to Pegasus.
Tulloch said: “This place is incredible. This facility is one of the best out there.
“Two gymnasts from Pegasus selected and coming back with two medals – it’s incredible.
“It’s great for the younger kids and for the club itself but I’ve got to say a big thank-you to our coaches because they’ve pushed us so much. “It’s good for Ma i d s t o n e a n d hop e f u l l y we can encourage mo r e people to get into sport.” is