The very last routine of the competition saw Wilson bumped down to bronze by American Danell Leyva, but the medal is Team GB’s seventh of an incredible gymnastics meet.
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The 16-year-old from Durham was already the first British woman to make a floor final and produced a fantastic routine to claim score of 14.933 to lead the standings.
My family were out there in the stands balling their eyes out and I think that set me off.
It capped a stunning week for the sport after Max Whitlock’s double gold, plus bronze in the all-around event and silver medals for Louis Smith and trampolinist Bryony Page.
Nile Wilson: “It is hard to put into words how I am feeling right now”.
“I just went out there and focused on my potential, my gymnastics, my high bar routine and forgot about everything else that was going on around me. Afterwards it was overwhelming – I was just in total shock”. Tinkler told BBC Radio Five Live.
Tinkler, who took her PE GCSE early before arriving in Brazil, was quickly followed onto the podium by Nile Wilson who took bronze on high bar, giving Team GB a total of seven gymnastics medals from the Games. She nailed every landing to score 14.933 and take bronze behind the USA’s Simone Biles (15.966) and Aly Raisman (15.500).
Tinkler also ensured she would emulate her idol Beth Tweddle, who won bronze on the parallel bars at London 2012.
“It has been incredible – I can’t believe it”, she said. She’s definitely a huge inspiration for me.
Great Britain had never won a medal in either the women’s floor or men’s high bar final at an Olympic Games, making it another historic evening of gymnastics for GB.
Leeds gymnast Nile Wilson became the first Briton ever to win an Olympic medal in the horizontal bar after a spectacular routine earned him bronze Tuesday’s final. I’m sure everybody knows it was tears of pride and happiness.
“It wasn’t the best routine I could have done but it was a routine and I’m so happy to have a medal”.
“It was a bit nerve-wracking watching the other athletes and knowing you are so close to a medal but I would have been happy with wherever I was placed”.
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“As soon as I finished my routine, I knew I couldn’t do any better”.
