England's Gabriel Langton has revealed he feared for his future in gymnastics following a significant fall at the Commonwealth Games. The incident occurred when Langton lost his grip while attempting to move into a handstand on the high bar, causing him to fall headfirst onto the mat.
There was a substantial delay in the competition while Langton received medical attention. He was initially taken from the arena on a trolley and then moved to a stretcher. Scans revealed swelling and bruising, but he was cleared to leave the hospital on Saturday night. Langton described himself as "a little bit sore and a little bit stiff," but added that he "can't really complain too much."
Reflecting on the moment of the fall, Langton stated, "Once I went up and both hands have left the bar that is not the best." He acknowledged that from that point, he knew the impact would be significant.
The England team went on to secure a silver medal in the competition, finishing behind Canada. Langton did not receive his medal until he returned to the team hotel on Saturday evening, where his teammates, coaches, and personal coach gathered to applaud him. He called the moment "incredible."
Langton attended the arena on Sunday to support his teammates in the men's all-around final. He plans to "take it easy for a couple of days and do the rehab" before resuming training, expressing confidence in his abilities and calling the incident "really just a freak accident."