Having previously competed at the 2022 Junior European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Munich, where Gabriel Langton won Bronze with the Team and Silver on the Parallel Bars, this year, he was part of the Great British team to compete in Rimini alongside Uzair Chowdhury, Zakaine Fawzi, Evan McPhillips and Sol Scott. As a team, Great Britain came away as junior European champions, and individually, Gabriel won Bronze in the All-Around and Silver on Rings, as well as qualifying for the Parallel Bars final. With Gabriel having been out of competition due to injury last year, at the 2024 English Championships, he won Gold on Rings, Silver in the All-Around and on Horizontal Bar and Bronze on Floor and Parallel Bars, and at the British Championships, he became the Under 18 champion for All-Around, Pommel Horse, Rings and Parallel Bars. Gabriel is planning to compete at the British Team Championships with his gym City of Birmingham Gymnastics Club, where he will be hoping to compete new skills. Speaking to us, Gabriel talks about competing at the 2024 Junior European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rimini, becoming the Under 18 All-Around, Pommel Horse, Rings and Parallel Bars champion at the British Championships this year and training with City of Birmingham Gymnastics Club.

In April, you won Gold in the Team event at the Junior European Artistic Gymnastics Championships alongside your British teammates Uzair Chowdhury, Zakaine Fawzi, Evan McPhillips and Sol Scott, what was it like competing together and how did you stay focused throughout the competition?

Competing together was incredible. The team got behind each other which massively helped throughout the competition, especially towards the end when we were more tired, we all supported each other which helped us do our best performances and get the gold.

How did you feel becoming the Junior European champion and collecting your medal?

It was incredible as it was something that me and the team and everyone involved with our gymnastics had worked hard for for a long time and for it to pay off was amazing.

Individually, you came away with the Bronze medal in All-Around and Silver on Rings, and also qualified for the Parallel Bars final, what were the individual finals like to be part of and how was it winning two individual medals?

Individual finals were great as I felt less pressure and nerves than I did on the Team final day, and it was the first All-Around final I have ever been a part of so it was a great experience. And to come away with some individual medals, especially the All-Around one, felt amazing because, like the Team final medal, it was something I have planned for and worked towards in the gym with my coach for a long time.

What did you enjoy most about representing Great Britain in Rimini and how was it returning to the European Championships, having competed in Munich in 2022?

The whole experience of a major is one of the best experiences in gymnastics and to have good performances to add to that made the time there even more enjoyable, and it was good to be back at a Europeans after I had a challenging year in 2023 with injuries. I worked hard in the latter parts of last year to get back in the hope of going to Rimini, and for the work to pay off was a good feeling.

How did you find the experience competing at the 2022 Junior European Championships and what was it like winning Bronze with the Team and Silver on the Parallel Bars?

Munich was great as it was my first major, and to get a few medals there was incredible. Rimini was different as I was more experienced and had different goals but I enjoyed both of them a lot.

You have recently become the Under 18 All-Around, Pommel Horse, Rings and Parallel Bars champion at the 2024 British Championships, how did you prepare for this year’s competition and what was it like to compete in?

British is a great comp as you are in a big arena with a great atmosphere unlike other national competitions. I prepared the same way I always do with a plan of routines set out by my coach in hope to peak in time for the competition.

Can you tell us about competing at the 2024 English Championships, which saw you win Gold on Rings, Silver in the All-Around and on Horizontal Bar, and Bronze on Floor and Parallel Bars?

Although English wasn’t my best competition, it was a good learning experience which helped me build for British and the Europeans. I still enjoyed the competition though as I knew that the English Championships wasn’t the end goal and I still had room for improvement in my routines.

Do you have a favourite aspect of being on the British Gymnastics junior squad and competing internationally?

The whole atmosphere is great, being with high level gymnasts who push you, and having a team of staff around us who are also dedicated to each of us being the best possible people we can be is an honour.

Where does your love of gymnastics come from and how did you get into it?

I started very young when I was three, when my parents took me to a low level class, and I enjoyed it from the start, and with the help of the people around me this helped me get better and better, whilst still having love for the sport.

Can you tell us about your training and how is it being part of City of Birmingham Gymnastics Club?

Training at Birmingham is great, with good equipment and good coaches. It also helps having role models training with me such as Joe Fraser as it motivates me to be better and hopefully one day achieve great things like he has done.

Who are some of your favourite gymnasts to watch and were there any that particularly inspired you when growing up?

Obviously Joe, he has always been someone I have looked up to, but outside of our club it would be Kohei Uchimura, as he has done what I want to do in the sport (Olympic and World champion).

Have you been given any advice over your gymnastics career so far that has stuck with you?

Tips my coach has given me over my time as a gymnast have helped me, such as his constant reminder for me to stay positive, as gymnastics becomes a lot easier when you are. And the fact that hard work will always be the key to success, it doesn’t matter how talented you are, if you want it enough, you will get it.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I like sports in general so watching or doing any sports outside of gymnastics.

Do you have any competitions coming up that you can tell us about or that you are targeting?

I have the British Team Championships coming up soon, where I will try to help Birmingham retain their title, and I will try to compete some new skills there to make my routines more difficult in an attempt to improving my scores on every piece.

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