Olympics gymnastics: Why does bronze mean so much for Britain?

When a British team reached the final in the 1924 Olympics, it still involved rope-climbing. Few sports at the Olympics have changed so vastly in that time.

Gymnastics has been dominated by a clique of nations – first, the Soviet Union and Romania, then China, the United States, Japan and Russia – for so long that breaking into that elite sphere requires money, talent, time and relentless effort.

This is not a sport in which gold medals can be manufactured overnight. Judges need to be convinced that nations are the real deal – and that can take years.

As gymnasts increasingly push the boundaries of human ability with their routines, breaking through requires ever-more talent and determination.

Winning an Olympic team medal proves that this crop of gymnasts has finally arrived at the sport’s top table.

“There are people all over this arena who have been part of a 40-year legacy building up to this,” said BBC gymnastics commentator Mitch Fenner.

“To think a British team is in contention with Japan and Russia. That cannot be put into perspective. Those are nations GB could not even look at a decade ago. Now they are fighting with them.

“Nine years ago, Britain’s men were 23rd in the world. Now they are the Olympic bronze medallists.”