Gymnasts' Silver And Bronze

6 August 2012, 12:31 | Updated: 6 August 2012, 12:37

Gymnasts Louis Smith from Peterborough and Max Whitlock from Hemel Hempstead have added more medals to their haul from London 2012.

Louis (pictured on the right), 23, who trains in Huntingdon, won silver in the pommel horse final on Sunday 5 August 2012.  Max (pictured on the left), 19, won bronze.

They had already won bronze in the team event six days before.  The gold was won by Hungarian Krisztian Berki, in a tie-break.

Smith admitted he held back on performing his toughest routine, which includes a triple rotation called the 'triple Russian', but is pleased to have come away from the Games with two medals despite missing out on gold.

"To do that routine under that type of pressure with two massive scores to beat, it was very nerve-wracking but I'm glad I'm still alive,'' Smith told Press Association Sport.

"In training, my 17.1 wasn't going to plan, I kept making a few little errors, so my decision was to go for the easier routine.

"He [coach Paul Hall] didn't make it, I did, and afterwards he said: 'That was a good decision'.

"It's hard. The waiting game I call it. It's tough, especially when you put in a good performance like that. I knew straight away as soon as it came up that it was second place.''

When asked if he regretted not going for his toughest routine with which he scored 16.325 at this year's British Championships, Smith said: "No, not at all. I could probably be standing here without a medal with tears down my face.

"I've got a silver medal, I've got my third Olympic medal and all those years ago I didn't think I would go to an Olympic Games and get three medals so I'm very happy right now.''

Whitlock was the surprise package of the day, and with all eyes on Smith, the 19-year-old from Hemel Hempstead produced a brilliant performance to take his place on the podium.

"I can't believe it,'' Whitlock said after collecting his medal. "To come home from my home Olympics, my first Olympics as well, with two of these bronze medals is unbelievable.

"To get through a clean routine in that atmosphere with the crowd cheering so loud. It's crazy. It felt good as I was going round but I had to keep it going and I'm so happy with that.

"I came into the Olympic Games just wanting to get a final for myself personally and for the team, to do as well as I can. I can't believe it, I've exceeded it.''