James Hall hails Fraser after gymnastics team gold

Maidstone's James Hall paid tribute to team-mate Joe Fraser after England secured a famous team gymnastics gold at the Commonwealth Games.

Fraser should, by all norms of medical advice, be sat in front on the sofa with his feet up.

It's just five weeks since he ruptured his appendix and three since he fractured his foot.

He surely shouldn't really be driving a car, let alone flinging himself in gravity-defying dizzying spins.

However, it was going to need more than a second opinion to keep this local lad from appearing in front of his home crowd in Birmingham.

And alongside Hall, Giarnni Regini-Moran, Jake Jarman and Courtney Tulloch, Fraser’s England defended their team gymnastics title, as Canada and a shell-shocked Cyprus completed the podium.

"You can't help but be inspired when you see what Joe has done," said Hall, competing at his second Commonwealth Games, who is one of more than 1,100 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support.

"If at any point when I walk into the gym and lack motivation, I just need to think of Joe and he makes it possible.

"I've trained with these guys since I was ten years old, we're a family, we're there for each other when times are good and times are bad. This one is special, with that home crowd cheering us on, that's a night I'm never going to forget, it's the best feeling in the world.”

However, Hall could have more golden nights to come at these Commonwealth Games, after he qualified to contest the all-around medals and made both the high bar and pommel final.

Four years ago on the Gold Coast he won all-around and high bar silver but the 26-year-old is not putting on too much pressure.

"The team gold was always the main objective, we knew we could do it, there was never a shadow of a doubt, even when faced with adversity," he added.

"Whatever happens next, the rest is a bonus. Competing with this team is what it's all about, being with these guys.

"The individual is all about you, I’m just going into that all-around final on Sunday to enjoy it. If there are mistakes from anyone, who knows? The important thing is to take these moments in because really pass you by."

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