SCOTLAND'S Dan Purvis has been called-up to the Great Britain team for the World Gymnastics Championships in Montreal next month.
The inclusion of the 26-year-old, who won bronze at London 2012 but suffered heartache when he was left out of last Olympic year's team for Rio, was something of a surprise. Speaking earlier this month, prior to the London Open which served as a trial for the worlds, Purvis admitted his expectations were low regarding possible selection.
He said: “I decided I may as well try out for the world championships. I just want to enjoy the trials and see what happens. So for me it’s just a case of going to the trials and trying to get as high a score as I can. If I make it, then great. If I don’t then it’s great to be back up there and getting ready for the next competition.”
Max Whitlock, the double Olympic champion, will will lead the 10-strong party and will be joined by Rio bronze medallists Nile Wilson and Amy Tinkler as they look to build on their extraordinary success at last year's Olympics.
The 24-year-old insisted he is unfazed by the weight of expectation as he bids to defend the pommel crown he won in Glasgow in 2015 to become Britain's first male world champion.
Whitlock said: "I am trying not to think about going in there to defend my title because I want to keep the pressure off as much as possible.
"I don't tend to look at what my rivals are doing but I'm happy with the upgrades I've made to my routine and the level I will now be going in at.
"My new start score on the pommel is hopefully still the highest in the world, so if I go through the routine clean then the scoring should take care of itself."
Wilson will make his return to a major championships for the first time since he snapped his ankle ligaments in a freak training fall in January.
Wilson will face a domestic challenge on the high bar from James Hall, who excelled at the European Championships in April winning all-around silver.
The men's squad is completed by European rings bronze medallist Courtney Tulloch and British champion Joe Fraser.
Teenage star Tinkler is joined in the women's team by Claudia Fragapane, Alice Kinsella and Georgia-Mae Fenton.
ends
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