The 18-year-old from Corby and his Huntingdon Olympic Gymnastics Club team-mate Louis Smith put the sport firmly back on the map with their performances at the Beijing Olympics last month.

Smith claimed a bronze medal in the pommel horse discipline while Keatings produced a highly-respectable display to finish 20th in the
all-round final.

And with the London games now firmly in their sights, Keatings is delighted with the impact he and Smith have made.

"It's great that people are taking notice of men's gymnastics in Britain," Keatings said.

"I think the last time we won a medal was in 1908 so it's 100 years in the making.

"It shows gymnastics is coming back on the map and Louis and I are the ones who are there at the moment. It's a great feeling to be part of it."

Keatings is now firmly focused on the 2012 Games on these shores – although there is plenty for him to concentrate on before then.

His display in Beijing hasn't gone unnoticed by the general public.

However, he insists the experience hasn't changed his life at the moment.

He added: "On the way home from the airport we dropped in for some petrol and I had a few people coming up to me and saying well done which was nice – although I was a little bit surprised!

"But I have generally been spending time with friends and family since I have been back and catching up with them.

"It hasn't changed my everyday life. However, I suppose my popularity has changed a bit.

"But everything is still the same for me. It's the same old me. I have just got to try and focus on the next dream of 2012."


Read a full exclusive interview with Daniel Keatings in today's Evening Telegraph.