SAM:I would sort of describe myself as a kid that er was definitely very sort of driven and focused when I was young.
SAM:The first time I had a gym session was in like a local leisure centre, I sort of like walk in quite shy and then I'm basically just running round like a nutter. I knew I loved it straightaway.
SAM:I was 12 when I did my first international competition for Great Britain, competing with the Union flag on your chest is one of the best feelings in the world. I just love competing, you know, for my country and just making, like, my family proud and really thought this is what I want to do.
SAM:Men's gymnastics is split into six apparatus; you've got the floor which is generally all legs, you've got the pommel horse which is all upper-body strength, the vault is just absolute power, it's almost like the hundred meter sprint for gymnastics. Parallel bars is very technical.
COMMENTATOR:Lovely stuff. And this is lovely swinging from Sam Oldham. Good [giant].
SAM:And then the high bar is sort of the-, the big event at the end that the-, the crowd tend to love the most and it's almost a bit like, you know, watching the circus and you just throw yourself about and you have to, you know, catch this bar at two meters high. It is really dangerous what you do, you know, if-, if something's just a little bit wrong, you know, you can get injured very easily and I've had loads of injuries. The only sort of way I can describe the relationship with my body is almost like a builder has his tools in his toolbox, but my tools is my body. The only reason I can do what I'm doing is my body, I've got to make sure it's in the best shape it can be in all the time.
SAM:I got goose bumps everywhere, it just went through me.
COMMENTATOR:Can Sam Oldham capitalise?
SAM:I was incredibly nervous and trying to just go through my normal routine. I was doing my element and I was just, you know, shaking because of the adrenaline and the nerves and excitement and stuff. As soon as I landed that first dismount and I was on my feet, that was it, it was just complete relief um and the crowd went absolutely nuts. We qualified for the team final for the first time in however many years, and it was almost like every hour that went by was one hour closer to day of days almost. It was really, really nerve-wrecking.
COMMENTARY:Great Britain take a bronze in the men's team final, and look, royal approval! Royal approval! What more could you want?!
SAM:To have an Olympic medal is crazy, it really is, it still doesn't feel like I've got one. Um i-, in gymnastics the Olympics is the pinnacle, it really is. When I was 12, 13 years old I was training 45 hours a week, you know, adults don't work that much. It's just such a massive sense of relief to get to now and actually have one and for it to have all paid off. I hope, you know, in the future, in four years' time, I'll be able to get my hands on a couple more.
SAM ON VIDEO:This really is a dream come true, we've been working so hard for so many years, and to repeat what we did in qualifying is just unbelievable. Honestly, it's just a dream come true and I can't-, I cannot believe this. You know, we did amazing today.
SAM:You're always going to have fears whatever you do, what, you know, whether it's starting a new job or in gymnastics trying a new skill or diving, jumping off the ten meter board for the first time. Whatever it may be there's always going to be fears, but it's how you overcome them and how you get through them and that's-, it's, you know, it's not about-, it's not always about the end result, it's about the-, the journey.
The story of how 19-year-old Sam Oldham was inspired to become an Olympic gymnast.
Sam recalls key events and experiences from his childhood that made him the athlete he is today.
As a child, Sam loved football - his whole family was football mad - and he understandably thought that would be his passion too.
But one gym class changed all of that. Something sparked inside him and Sam knew this was his sport.
With the help of family pictures, animation and Olympic archive footage, Sam explains how an obsession was born.
He also describes what the different elements of competitive gymnastics are - floor, pommel horse, still rings, vault, high bar and parallel bars.
Sam lived, ate and slept gymnastics before being selected for the GB team.
Being quite good was not enough for him, he wanted to reach his full potential within the sport.
Training for 45 hours a week and practicing competitively from the age of 12 was a big commitment, but it paid off.
He loved the feeling of representing his country and winning bronze at London 2012 was "literally a dream come true."
Sam's message to kids is, "it’s not really about the goal, it’s more about the journey."
This clip is from the series Olympic Spark: Fire Up Your Future.
Teacher Notes
Students could discuss the attributes needed to become a top gymnast like Sam Oldham.
Discuss how a multi-discipline sport like gymnastics presents a range of challenges for those who take part in it.
Ask what physical and mental attributes Sam needs, including the dedication to train for 45 hours a week.
Curriculum Notes
This clip is suitable for teaching Physical Education and PSHE at KS2 and KS3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and and 2nd, 3rd and 4th Level in Scotland.
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