Courtney Tulloch is hurting after missing out on the Olympics.

The Pegasus gymnast looked well placed to make the five-man squad after helping Great Britain win team silver at the European Championships in May.

He also performed well at final trials but was surprisingly overlooked for Rio, with selectors choosing Max Whitlock, Louis Smith, Nile Wilson, Brinn Bevan and Kristian Thomas.

Tulloch, 20, was given the news ahead of Tuesday’s official announcement.

He said: “I felt like I had a real chance with the performances I’d put in but it wasn’t meant to be. I felt like I was ready to go to Rio and do my best for the team. They had a vote and on the last round of votes they picked someone else over me.

“It’s hard to take because the Olympics is the pinnacle and it only comes round once every four years. It hurts a lot."

“It took me a few days to get my head around it because I’d been thinking about it for such a long time. It’s been my dream since I was 10 to go the Olympics.”

He added: “They gave me the option to appeal but I didn’t want to. They’ve chosen the team and that’s it. I’m reserve and you’ve got to think there’s still a chance of going.

“I’ve got a job to do and I’ll be professional about it and keep training. You don’t want anyone to get injured but injuries do happen and I’ll be ready just in case.”

Tulloch reached the qualifying standard for London 2012 but was too young to compete. He’s missed the cut for Rio but is determined to be at Tokyo 2020.

He said: “I’ll keep training hard. I know my time is yet to come. I’m going to make sure 2020 is my year.”