Tweddle wins floor gold at World Championships

By Holly Hamilton and Kathryn Catney, Sportsbeat, at the O2 Arena

 BETH Tweddle was all sequins and smiles after claiming floor gold at the World Gymnastics Championships in London.

SOARING HIGH: Great Britain's Beth Tweddle produced a stunning floor routine and the others simply couldn't follow her lead

Tweddle first visited the 02 Arena to watch a Spice Girls concert but today she was the only star turn for a sell-out and partisan crowd - winning a second career world title, following her success in Denmark three years ago.

Tweddle was devastated after failing to make the asymmetric bars final but recovered from a heavy fall there to produce a stunning floor routine that improved on her performance in qualifying.

The 24-year old was first up in the eight-woman final and produced a foot perfect display that set the standard that the rest simply failed to follow.

Tweddle, who won the floor title at the European Championships and World Student Games earlier this year, scored 14.650 but she then faced an anxious wait for her rivals to complete the competition.

She paced nervously alongside long-time coach Amanda Kirby as others followed, the tension increasing as each competitor failed to eclipse Tweddle's early marker.
 
She was immediately followed by Colombia's Jessica Gil Ortiz who appeared to land heavily on her neck early in her routine, a nasty fall that may have played on the minds of those that come.

Russia's Anna Myzdrikova , the top qualifier, was always a key threat but she stumbled midway through her performance and just missed out on a medal.

"It makes up for the beginning of the week because I was so disappointed not to make the bars final," said Tweddle, who failed to medal in her two previous appearances in World Championship floor finals.

"It's just the best feeling ever. I never dreamed that I would win a gold medal on the floor and do it in front of the home crowd is so fantastic.

"I really felt that I had to come out here and prove something to everyone.

"It's been a really tough week and I've had so many lows and highs in the space of a few days."

BIG HUG: Beth Tweddle hugs coach Amanda Kirby after winning the floor world title. She will be a guest of honour at Kirby's wedding next week (Getty Images)

Tweddle also revealed some retail therapy with her coach helped reset her focus after the bars disappointment and the City of Liverpool gymnast will now be a guest of honour at Kirby's wedding next week.

"I just tried to forget what happened on the bars and went shopping with Amanda and tried relaxing with my friends and family," she added.

"Then I was ready to get back in the gym and I worked so hard on Friday and Saturday to be ready for the final."

Australia's Lauren Mitchell took silver while China's Lu Sui completed the podium.