The 2018 Commonwealth Games are upon us! In a matter of hours, the Games will officially begin, kickstarting competition between 71 countries in 19 sports across 11 days on Australia's Gold Coast.
As ever, expectations for Team England are high and none so higher than with the gymnastics squad following their impressive performance at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro 19 months ago.
Nile Wilson was part of that Brazilian success, picking up a bronze medal on the horizontal bar, and returns to the Commonwealths looking to build on his haul of four medals from the last Games in Glasgow.
Sports Mole sat down with Nile for a chat ahead of his trip to Australia to reflect on Rio, his injury problems since and what his ambitions are for the next fortnight.
How important are the Commonwealths as an event to you?
"They're massively important, the enormity and the exposure of the event - and it gives you that experience of a Village and multi-sports environment. In terms of gymnastics, we're not competing against the strongest nations, so in terms of competition maybe the World Championships and European Championships are more important but the experience you gain is important. I was lucky enough to do the one in Glasgow four years ago and I feel like that was massive in terms of my Olympic preparations, so this will be the same for many athletes. It's an incredible experience."
In Glasgow you picked up four medals - what's your target this time?
"Similar. We're going for golds - we're very excited for the team event as always. Last time I got a couple of golds, a silver and a bronze so if we can turn the silver and bronze into gold I'd be a very happy man!"
This time the Commonwealths are happening in Australia - have you been before and what are you expecting from the experience?
"I was there in 2013 in Sydney for a competition. That was absolutely incredible and the things I'm hearing and the pictures I'm seeing [of the Gold Coast], I'm sure it will be a really, really special trip. I'm very excited to get out there."
It's about 19 months on from the Olympics in Rio now, where you got that bronze. How do you look back on that now?
"You are in your little bubble at the time, but it was a very proud moment. I've learned a lot of things about myself since then - I've had serious injuries and [ankle] surgery, a lot has happened in that 19 months. I'm just very, very privileged to be healthy and back on the world stage again. Even gaining that experience, you never lose the buzz from representing your country in a competition and I just focus on enjoying the journey."
You mentioned your injury from last year - what went through your head when you found out how serious the injury was?
"There's a lot of emotion behind it. I went from what was one of the most exciting periods of my life, coming off the back of winning an Olympic medal, to then rock bottom. But I feel like without those experiences we have, the setbacks, it wouldn't have made me into the gymnast and the individual that I am today. I truly believe that was one of the best things that could have ever happened to me - from mentally overcoming it, looking at things in perspective and how grateful I am today. As I said I was more proud of overcoming that more than any medal, 100%."
It must have been frustrating not being able to train for so long, though.
"It's one of those challenging periods, but it's all about your attitude and how you look at the situation you're in. It's happened, it's uncontrollable and you need now to have a positive outlook on it and move forward. I'm stood here having been selected for the Commonwealth Games again! In that moment it was tough, but the end goal was much bigger and I did what it took every single day to get back healthy.
"Now no-one talks about it and I'm very aware of that - they remember the medals and the successes, so that why it's important for me to look back and remember what I've overcome. Every athlete's the same. I remember the lowest points in my career whereas everyone else will remember the Commonwealth medals and the Olympic medals."
The Commonwealth Games' artistic gymnastics competition runs from April 5 to 9 on the Gold Coast. Follow Nile on Instagram @NileMW.
Neil Wilkes
