GYMNASTICS: Tyson Bull has etched his name in the history books after finishing fifth in the Horizontal Bar final, the best result of an Australian Men's Artistic gymnasts at an Olympic Games.
With high hopes going into the last Artistic session of Tokyo 2020, Bull was fifth to compete on the apparatus that is arguably the most difficult and more spectacular in the Men’s Artistic program.
In a field of international heavy weights and coming off a career best result, Bull was fifth on the start list and there was plenty of drama before the Australian’s turn to compete with two of the first four athletes falling off the apparatus during their routine.
Bull appeared calm as he stepped up onto the mats and was quick to make a statement beginning his routine with strong skills and connections. However, it didn’t all going according to plan, a slip three quarters through his performance resulting in a Bull being unable to prevent a fall from the apparatus.
Landing on his feet, Bull was able to complete his routine and earned a score of 12.466 to finish fifth overall. Having scored higher in the qualification round, Bull was humble but disappointed in the result.
“It felt like a bit of a missed opportunity,” Bull said.
“I know I could do a whole lot better; my training had been going really smoothly and well, just a slight miscalculation but it’s the biggest stage and that’s when mistakes are going to happen.
“Usually, I try not to look at scores so much but when you come out you can’t help but be competitive. You look at the crowd and you kind of know what’s going on, so I tried to just focus back in on what I’m doing and the job at hand.
Obviously, you see there is an opportunity to try and get after it. It’s a tough sport sometimes but that’s just the way it goes.”
Despite feeling the disappointment of not putting together the perfect routine, Bull’s results would go down in history, as the 28-year-old Victorian became the most successful Men’s Artistic Gymnast to represent Australia at an Olympic Games.
“It’s an incredible thing to think about,” Bull admitted.
“Obviously in the moment right now I’m still just a little heartbroken but at the same time it’s been an incredible experience and I hope that I’ve been able to represent Gymnastics in Australia as best I could, all my friends and family back home.”
The achievement is made even more impressive considering a thumb fracture Bull sustained only weeks before departing for Tokyo.
Despite being an individual sport, it’s the support system around him that helped Bull achieve success, from the AIS in Canberra to Melbourne and all the way to the University of Illinois Men’s Gymnastics Team where Bull is one of their now famed alumni.
“I’ve received just an incredible amount of support from friends and family and everyone back home, all my teammates and support staff, it takes a village to get here,” Bull said.
“I know there are so many watch parties happening back home, all getting around my family and the broader Gymnastics community has been behind me all the way and I’m just so thankful and grateful to them all.”
Shannon Knaus