Harry Hepworth Makes History with Olympic Vault Bronze at Paris 2024

Harry Hepworth has etched his name into Olympic history as the first British man to secure a medal in the vault, clinching a bronze at the Paris 2024 Games. In a thrilling final that showcased the highest level of gymnastics, Hepworth's impressive score of 14.949 edged out his compatriot and reigning world and European vault champion, Jake Jarman, who finished just shy of the podium in fourth place with a score of 14.933.

The vault competition saw a stellar performance from the Philippines' Carlos Edriel Yulo, who added a second gold medal to his impressive haul, having previously topped the floor event. Yulo's stunning score of 15.116 earned him the top spot. Armenia's Artur Davtyan took the silver with a score of 14.966, narrowly surpassing Jarman and Hepworth.

“I don't know how many hours of training have gone into this bit of metal—it’s a phenomenal feeling,” said Hepworth, visibly overwhelmed by his achievement. “It means the world to me; I’ve worked my whole life for this. I don’t even know what's happening right now.”

At just 20 years old, Hepworth was the second gymnast to compete in the vault final and faced an agonizing wait as the remaining competitors took their turns. Jarman’s earlier performance saw him holding onto the bronze medal position until Davtyan’s final vault nudged him out of the top three.

This event marked a historic milestone for British gymnastics, with Hepworth and Jarman making history as the first GB men to qualify for an Olympic vault final. Hepworth also made his mark in the rings final, becoming the first Briton to reach this stage, where he finished in seventh place with a score of 14.800.