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Great Britain complete record medal haul at European Gymnastics Championships

Becky Downie of Great Britain
Image: Becky Downie: One of three GB athletes to collect a silver medal on Sunday.

Great Britain completed a record haul of eight medals at the European Gymnastics Championships in Montpellier as Becky Downie, Sam Oldham and Claudia Fragapane all collected silver.

Downie added a podium finish from the beam event to her second place on the bars on Saturday, while Oldham's second in the high bars and Fragapane's floor routine capped a memorable event.

Downie scored 14.300 points behind gold medallist Andreea Eugenia Munteanu of Romania.

"I knew it was possible to medal and I tried to stay calm back in the warm-up back gym," the 23-year-old from Nottingham told www.british-gymnastics.org.

"I had to stay focused and make sure I went through my routine cleanly and to take silver is amazing, I really couldn't have asked for anything more in these championships.

"It has been an incredible Europeans for the whole GB team and we're all so proud of what we have achieved."

Fragapane's routine scored 14.633, behind Ksenia Afanasyeva of Russia.

"I am a bit overwhelmed. It is the most amazing achievement," said Fragapane, who was also in the final of the beam, where she placed fourth.

"I thought I had a chance, but I had to put in a good performance which I did plus I had a lot of fun.

"I am so grateful for everything and to everyone who has supported me, it is amazing I can't stop smiling."

Oldham, meanwhile, was able to successfully retain his European silver following a score of 14.766 on the high bars. Marijo Moznik took gold for Croatia.

"Coming into this final I felt a bit tired, but just kept saying to myself 'stay focussed, go for it'," said the 22-year-old, who suffering an ankle ligament injury at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"For me this championship has been all about the end of a journey, from injury at the Commonwealth Games I have worked hard and been supported by so many people and to have this medal is amazing."

Elsewhere, Kristian Thomas, a gold medallist in the floor event on Saturday, finished fifth in the vault and sixth on the high bar.

Teenager Amy Tinkler, the 15-year-old British champion was sixth in the floor event.

On Saturday, London 2012 Olympian Louis Smith had collected gold in the pommel horse, with Britain going on to eclipse their previous best result of five medals at both the 2009 and 2013 individual championships.

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