Kieran Behan hits target of reaching two finals in European Games

To get to the national gymnastics arena from the Baku media village, you walk the short distance to the shuttle bus, wait half an hour for it to leave, then sit back into the sinking folly of realising it’s simply taking you across the road.

It’s a worthwhile excursion nonetheless, as here you find the most ringing endorsement so far for these European Games in the form of Irish gymnast Kieran Behan.

But first to the honey and the chalk.That’s because Behan – competing in the individual all-round finals – very nearly lost his grip on the parallel bars. The gymnast in front of him had delayed his routine, and that spilled over into Behan’s countdown. In the rush to make his slot, Behan was able to rub honey onto his hands, but not chalk – this combination obviously a vital part of maintaining a proper grip.

Unfair

“It was a little bit unfair, so straightaway I was a little bit off,” he said. “So I possibly had that going through my routine, thinking about my grip, because I had just put honey on my hands without the chalk as well. That really wasn’t very nice, and I was thinking just before my dismount is my hand going to slip off? But hey it’s part of the experience, and I know for the the next time.”

Indeed Behan was actually relishing the experience: three years on from becoming only the second Irish gymnast to qualify for the Olympics at the London Games, the 26-year-old reached his target of making the individual all- round final.

He finished 17th of the 18th finalists, with a points total of 81.198 (with the gold medal going to Oleg Verniaiev from the Ukraine, on 90.332 point, who edged out home favourite, Oleg Stepko from Azerbaijan); yet Behan actually scored highest on the floor exercise – and will go into that final on Saturday well positioned to challenge for a top place.

Satisfied

“I am really satisfied, and to be out there competing against the likes of Verniaiev and Stepko, battling it out, was tremendous. My target was to come here and make the floor final, and the individual final, and I’ve done that. So it’s a fantastic experience.”

More importantly, he says, the Games have already proven their value to the sport. “Well if you look at the scores here, already, the level is higher than at the European Championships. So the athletes that are here are top of the field. I think it will definitely grow, and to be a part of the first one is absolutely amazing.

“And no one really knew that Ireland even did gymnastics, and we have a men’s and women’s team here, so we’re definitely going out there and putting it on the map . . . And I do think we are improving every time we go out. We need the financial support, as well, and keep hold of everybody . . .

“Sometimes when you’re going to just gymnastic events, and I have had it in the past, it’s just me going, and it’s quite difficult keeping yourself in the zone, all the time, and things like that. But when you’re here and you have the whole of team Ireland with us, the encouragement we get and give to the other is brilliant.”

Truth is Behan is now something of a familiar face in Irish sport, and he’s intent on rebuilding his form all the way to Rio, next summer.

“It’s nice that people remember your face, but a big thing I said at the London Olympics is that I was disappointed with my performance, and I really felt that I had a point to prove.

“And I think I’ve done that here, securing two finals, and I feel very confident going into the floor final.”