Gunthorpe gymnast's watching brief at the Commonwealth Games has made him envious
Gunthorpe gymnast Jake Jarman is suffering from a serious case of Commonwealth Games envy but he has eyes on a different target after choosing not to compete.
The city-based star made history by becoming the first English male gymnast to win four gold medals at a Commonwealth Games in Birmingham four years ago. But with the World Championships to follow later this year, the 24-year-old has opted not to defend his titles in Glasgow in order to perfect a new routine. He is however in Glasgow keeping an eye out for the English gymnasts in particular.
“It was a tough call. Being here does make me think, ‘I wish I was competing,’ but I also have to think about the next three or four years,” Jarman said. “What is our team going to look like? What routines am I going to be performing in the future? "When it comes to the World Championships later this, it gives our nation a much better chance of qualifying for the LA Olympics in 2028.
“Competing throughout the year makes it difficult to make those improvements, so this was the right decision.
“It was tough. I'm extremely fond of the Commonwealth competition, but I had to weigh up competing against taking the time to develop more difficult routines.”
Jarman won Commonwealth gold in the team event, plus individual titles in the all-around, floor and vault.
It launched his career and proved to be a springboard to winning World Championship gold on the vault in 2023 and on the floor in 2025. He also claimed floor bronze at the Paris Olympics two years ago.
“Just being in this environment almost brings back the same feelings that I experienced when I competed in Birmingham four years ago,” Jarman added.
“The Commonwealth Games is probably the only competition I've experienced where you have a first subdivision really early in the morning where the arena is packed and everyone is cheering for everyone. It’s such a lovely experience and it's so unique to these Games.”
Stamford gymnast Lottie Smith was in the Scotland team that finished sixth in the ladies team event in Glasgow.
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