Tinkler defies illness to put herself within reach of final

Amy Tinkler shrugged off the effects of a heavy cold to put herself in a strong position to qualify for the final of the women’s all-around competition at the World Gymnastics Championships in Montreal.

The 17-year-old revealed she had been struggling with the illness since arriving in Canada last week, but still produced a series of impressive displays to earn a total combined score of 52.831. Only the top 24 are guaranteed a place in the all-around final and both Tinkler and her team-mates must wait until tonight to confirm that they have done enough.

Claudia Fragapane’s score of 13.933 puts her in a good position on the floor, while 16-year-old Georgia-mae Fenton shone through a difficult high bars routine to score a leading 14.533.

Tinkler said: “It is still affecting me but it just makes me happier to have done what I did today.” Her only mistake was a slip from the high bar, the same apparatus on which Fenton, making her senior debut at a major Championships, rose to the occasion.

Earlier, Max Whitlock, Nile Wilson and Courtney Tulloch were all confirmed to have qualified for their respective men’s finals. The trio completed their routines on Monday but crucially maintained qualification positions following the final men’s preliminary phase yesterday.

Reigning world and Olympic champion Whitlock will go into Saturday’s pommel final as the highest-placed qualifier.

European silver medallist Tulloch qualified in sixth place for the rings final – also on Saturday – while Wilson was ranked eighth highest for the men’s all-around, which continues tomorrow.