Olympic Excellence with Daniel Keatings

To help Olympic training gymnast Daniel Keatings, achieve his career ambitions, Opus Energy has become his official sponsors leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. Entering a hectic 2010 schedule Opus Energy take the opportunity to speak to Daniel to recap of a few successes of 2009 and find out his hopes for gymnastics in 2010.

Daniel, you have had a phenomenal 2009! What was your highlight of the past year and why?

“2009 has been hugely successful not only for me but also for British Gymnastics as we have finally arrived on the world stage. All of the great nations are talking about British Gymnasts.

“Personally for me the highlight of 2009 has to be the World Championships in London and my historic Silver Medal in the Men’s All Around competition. To win a World Medal has always been one of my main objectives but to win it in the All Around and two years ahead of my own targets, was a dream come true.”

What did you originally set out to achieve in gymnastics at the start of 2009?

“My original targets for 2009 were to win a Medal at the Europeans, to win back the British All Around title I lost in 2008 and make the final at the World Championships. To achieve all three would have been a huge achievement for me but to exceed my own expectations in two was unbelievable. 

“At the Europeans I won a Bronze on the Pommel Horse and Silver in the All Around and at the World Championships I experienced the greatest achievement of my career so far; winning Britain’s first ever Silver Medal in the men’s All Around title.”

What’s your primary focus for gymnastics in 2010? 

“2010 is all about the British team. My main targets in 2010 are to hopefully lead the Senior British team onto the rostrum for the first time ever at the European Championships in Birmingham. Also to lead the British team at the World Championships in Rotterdam and secure a place in the top 24 teams, ensuring qualification into the second round qualifications for the Olympics in 2012.”

What is your first memory of gymnastics? 

“Winning a Gold Medal at my very first competition; the East Midlands Floor and Vault competition in 1996 aged six.”

Who is your idol? 

“The Japanese gymnast Hiroyuki Tomita; he is a very stylish gymnast.”

What are you most looking forward to in 2010? 

“The European Championships in Birmingham, my next big competition!”

What is your ultimate dream? 

“To win a gymnastics medal at European, World and Olympic level.” 

If you could have dinner with anyone famous who would it be and why? 

“Mohammed Ali and Steven Gerrard - both are very talented, inspirational and huge ambassadors for their sport.”

If you hadn’t trained as a gymnast what would you be now?

“I still think I would be involved in some sort of competitive sport. My dad used to be a kick boxer so probably boxing. He took me along to his club to get me involved in the sport. I began gymnastics to become more flexible and stuck at it because I enjoyed it so much.”

What is the best perk about being in the public eye? 

“Raising the profile of British Gymnastics and having kids tell me they want to be just like me."

To keep up-to-date with Daniel's training and preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games, visit his blog.

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