GREAT BRITAIN’S Beth Tweddle suffered huge disappointment at the Gymnastics World Championships yesterday as she missed out on the uneven bars final.
The 2007 world champion performed in the third round of qualifying at London’s O2 Arena, but fell during her routine while trying to execute the “Tweddle” – the move named after her.
She finished the routine but could only score 13.850, which left her out of the topeight qualifying positions in 11th.
“I’m pretty gutted. I didn’t know anything about it until I hit the floor,” she said.
“It was actually my own skill. It’s just one of those things. In training leading up to it nothing went wrong.
“Leading up to it I was really looking forward to it. The crowd are a buzz rather than a pressure.”
However, there was some better news for the 24-year-old from Cheshire as she was lying in third in the floor exercise and was set to reach the final, with only two rounds to go.
The Liverpool gymnast recovered brilliantly after almost falling in her opening sequence on the floor to execute a routine high in difficulty and score 14.075, leaving her behind China’s Sui Lu and Romanian Ana Porgras.
“I’ve got a positive to take, hopefully I’ve got a floor final,” she added.
Britain’s Becky Wing, 17, was set to reach her first international all-around final after scoring 53.875 to move into fifth overall with 24 places available, although she dropped to ninth after the third round.
“Overall, I was pretty pleased. I think there’s a good chance at the moment, but I’ll have to see how it goes,’’ she said. “Being the first gymnast from Great Britain to be out here, there was a bit of pressure riding on me, but I had nothing to lose coming out here today, so I really just wanted to enjoy it and it was amazing.”
Her team-mate Marissa King, 18, was in contention for the vault final after her two exercises earned her 13.850 to leave her third.
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