YOG 2010: Bailey pays the price for risking it all

From Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

NATHAN Bailey admitted his all or nothing approach didn't pay off after a disappointing performance in the trampoline final at the Youth Olympic Games.

DISAPPOINTED: Nathan Bailey was eighth in the trampoline final at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore

Bailey qualified in fifth place, posting a 64.700 personal best score for his opening two routines.

But with a top-class field contesting the medal mix, the British teenager admitted to pushing himself too hard in the final.

He took a tumble and ended up on the matting at the side of the trampoline, throwing his hands in the air in resignation as he called a premature end to the performance.

Ukraine's Oleksandr Satin won gold, ahead of China's Yuxiang He and Japan's Ginga Munetomo with Bailey ranked a distant eighth.

"You either go for it or you don't and I went for it and it didn't come off - these things happen but it's still very annoying," said Bailey. 

"It's just a learning experience, a good experience in many ways. 

"I felt really happy for the first two routines, I was in a good place heading into the final.

"My expectations were really high and I thought I was on a roll but it wasn't to be."

Bailey, 17, will now return home to prepare for the World Championships later this year but admits the experience of the Youth Olympics has only given him a taste for making his senior Games debut at London 2012.

"I've got some down time now so I can do a bit of training and focus on improving my routines," he added. 

"I haven't had a lot of training recently because of the number of competitions I've been involved in.

"I still think London 2012 is out there for me, it's possible but everything will depend on getting it right at the trials.

"The experience here in Singapore has been fantastic and I've learned so much about what major Games are like.

"I've got close with all the athletes and enjoyed spending time with people from other sports for a change."

China's Yu Dong won the women's title with Belarus Sviatlana Makshtarsova and Japan's Chisato Doihata completing the podium.

  Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games. Visit LloydsTSB.com/London2012