I sometimes get into a pickle...

LOUIS found himself making the wrong kind of headlines from getting a two-month ban for appearing to mock Islam in a video to getting caught up in an online sex sting.

louis on his ban

“The label of being banned is what hurts. I don’t feel I had any support or leniency from British Gymnastics. It was like they were trying to make an example out of me, especially when the CEO asked for a two-year ban. That’s in the same league as people caught taking steroids and performanceenhancing drugs. It’s a shame when you consider all the things I’ve tried to do for the good of the sport. I’ve tried to be the best gymnast and role model I can be. My gymnast friends have missed me and the coaches are looking forward to me getting back in the gym.”

on headline regrets

“Hindsight is an amazing thing. I can think of 20 situations where I look back and think I could have avoided that. I get myself into a pickle sometimes. I’ve come from a background where it’s hard to be on a pedestal all the time. I’m not the perfect role model and I’m not an angel.”

on his background

“I grew up on a council estate with friends doing drugs and going to prison. Just because I try to talk well and I sound like a nice boy and I do a dainty sport where I wear a leotard people think it’s been an easy ride. I’m supposed to be an angel because I’m an Olympian. Well, I try to be the best I can be but a lot of the time I mess up. I try to learn from my mistakes and if I do inspire some people it makes me happy. My mum’s a single parent who scrimped and saved to bring my brother and me up and I like to think she’s proud of me and what I’ve been able to achieve. She’ll tell me when I’ve done wrong and I respect what she says.”