Intense training pays off for Cambridgeshire Olympic medallist

An Olympic medallist said the feeling of participating in the Games was unlike any other as he hopes to compete again in 2028.

Peterborough gymnast Jake Jarman secured bronze in the men’s floor exercise in Paris, five days after helping Great Britain to finish fourth in the team event.

The Olympic debutant was cheered on by inspired gymnasts at his home club in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and said he hoped to compete in Los Angeles in four years time.

Despite an outstanding performance, the 22-year-old was surprised to take a medal for his floor routine which had been “historically inconsistent”.

“I feel like I’ve skipped a step,” Jarman told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

“I’ve only been able to produce a bronze medal at the European Championships, so to be walking away with an Olympic medal… it’s unbelievable.

“It happened so quick. On the whole it’s been an incredible experience and I’m a bit upset I can’t compete again because being in that arena in front of that massive crowd… you won’t get that feeling anywhere else.”

Training for Jarman consists of two “intense” sessions a day of about three and a half hours each, which he said was “necessary to get to this level”.

As for competing at the 2028 Olympics, he added: “I am still young enough to push four more years in my gymnastics career. I would actually like to go beyond LA as well, we’ll just have to see.”

His dad, Tony, said the Games had been phenomenal and he was proud of his son, as were those watching from his home club.

“The club love the work Jake does and they set TVs up and invited people in to watch him… we love gymnastics and the gymnastics community.”

James Barley, deputy head coach at Huntingdon Gymnastics Club, said Jarman’s development had been “amazing” to watch.

“I was blown away by his natural talent and commitment to work hard. Watching him work with [head coach] Ben Howells to see what he could and has become is amazing,” Mr Barley said.

“Boys and girls come in excited and inspired to train in the same place as him and hope to become the next Jake Jarman.”

The Olympian also has a move named after him, ‘The Jarman‘, after he completed 3.5 full rotations in the air on floor exercise at the Paris World Cup in September 2023.

He was the first athlete ever to do so.

Cyclist Ed Lowe, 20, who went to school in Peterborough and started his racing career with the Fenland Clarion club in nearby Helpston, will compete at his first Olympic Games at about 18:08 BST.

He will lead the men’s sprint team by riding the opening lap in the qualification rounds.