From weekend gym classes in Pudsey to Olympic Bronze in Rio – the rise of Nile Wilson has been astronomical.
Wilson, a 20-year-old Pudsey lad who switched on the town’s Christmas lights last December, yesterday won bronze in the men’s individual horizontal bar at the Rio Olympic Games.
He’s the first Briton to win a medal in high bar and tweeted his joy at his success this morning:
No feeling like it ever! Thank you so much for everyone's support & believing in me ❤️ Dream come true! pic.twitter.com/1ybiS0c98Z
— Nile Wilson (@NileMW) August 17, 2016
Wilson is a former pupil at Pudsey Grangefield School. They tweeted their congratulations:
Huge congratulations from us all to @NileMW. We are all so proud to have an Olympic bronze medalist as one of our former students!
— Pudsey Grangefield (@PudseyGS) August 16, 2016
Congratulations also came from Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan:
Just wow #teamleeds #teamyorkshire @TeamGB !!! @NileMW @JackLaugher @katymarch @NicolaAdams2012
— Tom Riordan (@tomriordan) August 16, 2016
Wilson’s mum and dad – Sally and Neil – and his sister were watching in the “crying their eyes out”, as Wilson joked afterwards.
The Guardian reports how the stadium announcer had tracked down his dad, Neil, in the stands before the medal ceremony had even begun. “I think we’re going to have a few beers,” he announced to the crowd. “We’re going to dance to some Brazilian music, that’s the only way.”
This is unbelievable, @NileMW you done it! 🇬🇧 #proud pic.twitter.com/THpzF6LQT4
— Max Whitlock (@maxwhitlock1) August 16, 2016
