Double Olympian Kristian Thomas on London 2012, World Vault History and Retirement

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Host Winston Powell sits down with Kristian Thomas, double Olympian, 2012 Olympic team bronze medalist, 2013 World Vault bronze medalist, and 2015 European floor champion. Kristian walks through his full journey in gymnastics, from following his older brother into the sport at age five, to winning Britain's first men's Olympic team medal in 71 years on home soil, to becoming the first British male gymnast to medal on vault at the World Championships. He also opens up about the tough side of Rio 2016, his transition out of the sport, and where he thinks gymnastics goes next. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Kristian got into gymnastics at five by following his older brother, who left the sport by around 10 years old. Without that first step, Kristian's own career might never have happened. His first senior international was the 2006 Commonwealth Games at 17, where a team bronze on the other side of the world became the moment he realised the Olympics was actually within reach. Watching Lewis Smith and Dan Keatings succeed in Beijing 2008 gave the whole squad a huge confidence boost heading into the London cycle. Britain's failure to qualify at the 2011 Worlds became the wake-up call that led to European team gold, a strong London 2012 test event, and eventually the historic team bronze at the Olympics. The World Vault bronze in 2013 came after a fractured tibia in March and a broken heel bone in rehab, giving him arguably his proudest moment despite an awful build up. Rio 2016 fourth place was heartbreaking in the moment, but with hindsight it stands as one of Team GB's most successful non-home Olympics and British gymnastics' best ever men's Olympic result. Kristian retired in 2017 on his own terms, something very few elite athletes get to do. Staying involved in the sport at arm's length made the transition significantly softer. On the sport's future, he is a fan of the eight skill drop, the direction of high bar, and the mixed team event, and expects prize money, AI judging, and kit rules to become bigger conversations. BEST MOMENTS: "It was almost like a soft play on steroids." "You do the basics well, and everything else looks after itself." "I finished the sport on my terms, and to have the luxury to do that is pretty unique." "You compete in those big moments, high pressurised environments, where you need to deliver." "It's not necessarily the gymnastics you miss. It's the camaraderie, the teammates, the environment." "The results are the results. That's one thing. But the friendships you build, the people you meet along the way, that's what's more special." LINKS: Website: https://winstonpowell.co.uk/ Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wpowell05/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonpowell5 E-book: https://payhip.com/b/f6RjV ABOUT THE HOST: As a member of the Senior Great Britain Squad, Winston Powell brings firsthand experience to every episode. His achievements include being the Under 18 English Champion in 2023 and reaching the finals in three events at the Junior World Championships the same year: the All-Around, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar finals, qualifying 7th for the All-Around. With five international appearances as a GB gymnast, he has gained invaluable insights into the sport's highest levels. His passion for gymnastics, combined with his deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by elite athletes, makes him the perfect guide to exploring the strategies and stories behind gymnastics success.