London 2012 is the finale of 27-year-old Tweddle’s gymnastic career and winning a bronze medal will be a satisfying finish for the sports star who already holds an array of European titles.

In a tense competition, Tweddle took bronze behind gold medal winner Aliya Mustafina and China’s He Kexin who took silver

Liverpudlian Tweddle started fifth out of the eight competitors but was in good form and showed the doubters she was not past her gymnastics prime, winning a score of 15.916 from judges.

After 10 years in gymnastics, Tweddle already holds three world, six European and seven British titles, but until today she had not won an Olympic medal.

“It would be the best way to finish my career,” Tweddle said. “I just wanted to make that final. You’ve got to have luck on the day.

“If I go there and do the best routine that I can and it comes away with a medal, so be it. If it doesn’t I’ve got so much to look back on in my career.

“I would have walked away very disappointed if I hadn’t made a final. At least I’ve got that final to finish my career off.”

In one of the most un-gushy Olympic parents interviews, when Tweddle’s father, Jerry, was asked by the BBC what he had been doing in the build-up to the Olympics, he replied: “I’ve been laying a patio.” 



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