Gymnast Daniel Keatings eyes success at Olympics

Keatings proud of Scottish roots

European gold medallist Daniel Keatings has explained that pushing for Olympic success in London means he will miss this year's Commonwealth Games.

The Scot became Britain's first ever European Champion when he won Sunday's pommel horse final in Birmingham.

"We are trying to qualify a team for the Olympic Games," he said, explaining his absence from the team for Delhi.

"And its important in this world championships to get as high a place in the team rankings as possible."

Britain took silver behind Germany in the team event in Birmingham and Keatings believes that this will stand them in good stead for the world championships.

But, while he will miss the Delhi squad, the Kettering-born, Corby-based 20-year-old is eyeing being part of the Scotland team when the Commonwealth Games take place in Glasgow.

I can't explain in words what it meant. It is just the most amazing feeling ever Daniel Keatings

"I am hoping to go to the world championships at the end of the year and help the team as much as I can to get a qualifying place and maybe some finals myself and maybe a medal, fingers crossed," he said.

"Then, obviously, I've got the Olympics coming up in 2012 and Glasgow 2014.

"Corby itself is like a little Scotland. There's a lot of Scottish people who live in Corby and most of my family are Scottish as well, so I have been taken on as a Scot since a young age."

Keatings, who took silver in the all-round events at the European and world championships last year, had gone into the individual final hoping to cut out the error that marred his performance in the team event.

"But I put Saturday behind me," said the Scot, who admitted that Saturday's performance had added to his pre-competition nerves.

"I just went in there and focused on what I had to do and pulled it off.

"It is such an amazing achievement. I went into the European Championships just hoping to make the final in the pommel horse.

"I can't explain in words what it meant. It is just the most amazing feeling ever."

Keatings edged out team-mate Louis Smith into second place in Birmingham.

"It just shows how the British team are at the moment," he said. "Coming one and two in the pommel horse is unheard of - especially from GB, it is such an amazing achievement."