DAN Purvis may have suffered the heartbreak of missing out on selection for the Rio Olympic Games last summer, but following his surprise call-up to the British team for last week’s World Championships in Montreal, he slipped back into the squad like he had never been away.
“It was great being back and it brought back the old memories,” he said. “The team dynamic has changed a little bit now, with some of the younger guys coming through but it was still a great team atmosphere so I really enjoyed it and it was great to be selected again after last year.”
For someone who is more of an all-rounder, his selection on only the parallel bars was a change for him, even though it was the discipline in which he won gold for Scotland at Glasgow 2014.
“Only competing on one piece was quite hard because you’re waiting about all week and then have only one chance,” the 26-year-old said. “But it was great to be there and see some of the world’s best and also see the GB athletes do so well.”
Purvis missed out on a spot in the final after a slip during his routine which left him with damaged wrist ligaments. The injury has had the knock-on effect of forcing him to withdraw from this weekend’s Northern European Championships.
While that was a disappointment for Purvis, the World Championships served to re-invigorate him after his Olympic disappointment last year.
“I feel like the World Championships have ignited a spark in me,” he said. “After Rio, it was very difficult. I was very frustrated and upset. But the main aim for me now is the Commonwealth Games and so that’s what’s driving me on.”
Being a relative old-timer in gymnastics terms, Purvis will not be doing the hours in the gym over the winter that he once did, in order to protect himself from further injury.
“I wasn’t sure how my body would be feeling at this stage of my career but touch wood, I’m feeling good,” he said. “It’s more clever training now, so I’ve cut down on some of the repetitions. When I was younger, I’d stay in the gym messing about until nine o’clock at night whereas now, I need to get home by about 6pm so that I can get a good few hours rest and be ready for the next day.”
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