Kristian Thomas joins the Park Wrekin team

Wolverhampton-born Thomas, 2015 European gold medallist and member of Team GB’s heroic bronze medal-winning London 2012 men’s artistic gymnastics squad, is joining Park Wrekin as head of the club’s recreational programme.

Thomas was guest of honour at the official opening of the club’s new premises in September 2017 and cut the ribbon to formally launch a £200,000 investment in new, state-of-the-art, Olympic-quality equipment and facilities.

Christine Still, head coach at Park Wrekin and member of The Board of Trustees, said: “We are all very excited by Kristian joining our coaching team.

“He is a world-class gymnast and his enthusiasm and experience will be an inspiration for all our members.

“Kristian will start with us today and will spend his first week observing and getting to know the coaches and gymnasts.

“He will take over the recreation programme on February 1.”

Thomas said: “I could not have found a better club at which to start the next chapter of my life in gymnastics.

“Park Wrekin already has many outstanding coaches and I am privileged to become a part of their team.

“I hope that I can bring just a little of my knowledge and enjoyment of the sport to aspiring gymnasts in the Telford and surrounding area.”

Since retiring in 2017, Thomas has become only the second person to be inducted into the British Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

He won his first global individual medal in the 2013 World Championships, a bronze in vault that was also the first global medal ever won in vault by a British male gymnast. In 2015 he won his first major international title, gold in the floor exercise at the 2015 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

Among the up-and-coming gymnasts at Park Wrekin are Alice Kinsella, who took the AA silver medal in the 2017 senior British Championships, with Ellesse Oates finishing sixth and Charlie Fellows seventh.

Fellows also took the bronze medal in the floor exercise.