Louis Smith narrowly misses gold

Smith’s second bronze in the team event last week made him GB’s most decorated male Olympic gymnast.

But his life could so easily have taken a different path. Born in Eye, near Peterborough, Cambs., Smith has always been a talented singer and almost channelled his energies into that instead.

“I had to make a decision when I was eight and got offered a scholarship in singing either to do that full time or carry on with gym. I chose gym,” he said.

His mother, Elaine Petch, was mightily relieved, as she had started taking him to gymnastics when he was four as an outlet for his energy after he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

“He was very energetic,” she said, “it was either him running around the house here and climbing everywhere or going somewhere that was structured.”

Smith has never quite given up his singing ambitions though, and auditioned for the TV talent show The X-Factor four years ago.

“You've got to think about what you are going to do afterwards,” he said. “I have made it through to the fourth round of X Factor, which is when I get to appear on television and meet Simon Cowell and the rest of the judges for the first time. I just really want to hear what Simon says about my voice – whether he thinks I could make it as a solo singer.”