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Kent gymnasts Giarnni Regini-Moran and James Hall help Team GB finish fourth in the men's team final at the Tokyo Olympics

16:44, 26 July 2021

updated: 16:58, 26 July 2021

Kent gymnasts Giarnni Regini-Moran and James Hall were proud of their achievements after finishing fourth in the men's team final at the Tokyo Olympics.

Regini-Moran recorded Team GB's highest score on any apparatus in the final with 15.166 on the parallel bars.

Hall competed in all six disciplines and gets another chance to claim a medal on Wednesday when he goes in the individual all-around final.

It was always going to be a big ask for the team, which included Max Whitlock and Joe Fraser, to break into the medal places.

The fourth-place finish equals GB's position at Rio 2016. They were 6.134 points behind China in bronze (261.894) while the Russian Olympic Committee took gold with 262.500 and Japan won silver.

"I was just proud of myself," said 22-year-old Regini-Moran from Gravesend. "My aim for today was I wanted to go out there and just give it my all.

"I wanted to do what I know I am capable of doing and I didn't quite showcase that in qualifications. I felt a little bit disappointed with myself.

Giarnni Regini-Moran helped GB finish fourth at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire
Giarnni Regini-Moran helped GB finish fourth at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire

"Today, I didn't want to make that same mistake. I wanted to come out here and just showcase what I am really made of, so to get that score and to see those results, I'm just super proud.

"I would say for me personally the floor, vault and parallel bars are my three favourite apparatus.

"They are all a bit up and down, sometimes my vault will be better than the rest, sometimes parallel bars will be better, sometimes the floor. But I would say those three combined are my best apparatus."

Regini-Moran competed on four apparatus: rings (13.733), vault (14.666), parallel bars (15.166) and floor (14.533).

On his parallel bars routine, he added: "It was always my plan to do that routine, I've been training it. I did it in qualification it, just didn't execute it as good and obviously we knew today it was the team final, if we wanted any chance.

"I would say for me personally the floor, vault and parallel bars are my three favourite apparatus..."

"We all know we can go through the routine and stay on if we wanted to but to really get the best scores we needed to go all out, and I stepped up to each apparatus and just thought do you know what I am going to give this my all and whatever the outcome at least I can say I left everything on the floor.

"I would say I felt a little bit more settled waking up this morning, qualifications day I woke up and I thought ok I am a bit nervous now.

"Today I woke up and felt fine. As soon as I put my arm up for rings, the adrenaline was pumping round, I felt the nerves.

"On every piece I felt the adrenaline and the nerves and probably a little bit of excitement as well but today I managed to keep that under control whereas I think on qualification day I let that get the better of me.

"Today I was like 'Right, just control the nerves and just enjoy the process because this is potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity. I don't want to go back reflect and be like 'I wish enjoyed it, I wish I had done this so today I am happy with my performance, and I left everything out there on the floor."

James Hall was part of the GB team that finished fourth on Monday. Picture: Sean Aidan
James Hall was part of the GB team that finished fourth on Monday. Picture: Sean Aidan

Maidstone's Hall competed on all six apparatus - rings (13.600), vault (14.233), parallel bars (13.100), high bar (14.200), floor (14.033) and pommel horse (14.000).

The 25-year-old said: "We said to each other before the comp, we are going to go out there we are going to go for broke.

"There is no point just trying to get through the routines and scrape through we had to leave everything out there on the floor and in my opinion, I think we did that.

"Fourth-placed finish is nothing to turn your nose up at, so I couldn't be more happy.

"For me and Joe (Fraser) we always focus on the team final. Today was the day that we wanted to do the best job that we possibly could and go 18 for 18 routines and we did that.

"Fourth-placed finish is nothing to turn your nose up at, so I couldn't be more happy..."

"It wasn't perfect but we did the best we possibly could and going into Wednesday's all-around final I think we can relax a little bit and again go for broke and just enjoy it."

Sadly, Regini-Moran is not allowed to cheer on Hall during his individual quest for a medal - covid regulations mean he has to leave Tokyo once he has finished competing.

"I'm actually flying home on Wednesday," said Regini-Moran. "The IOC's rule is if you finish competing then you have to go home within 48 hours just because of the whole Covid situation.

"So I will definitely be supporting them from home. I will probably be able to see things better on the TV. I will definitely be supporting them from my house."

Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent

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