European Gymnastics Championships 2024: Jake Jarman on how gymnasts manage travel fatigue

Format change at European Championships

The artistic gymnastics in Rimini has a change of format for the 2024 Europeans, in which the team competition takes place on the last day of the championships. Usually the first event, it is generally followed by the individual all-around, and then two days of individual apparatus finals. The switch makes a difference, says Jarman.

“It will definitely be a first for me. I’m going to have to really practise and think about how to plan and how to manage my body to save enough energy for that last day because normally it’s the hardest day of competition.

“For me personally, I don’t make that many apparatus finals, so (competitions) kind of taper off, but this time around, it’s like almost as if it starts to ramp up, so I’m just going to have to try and figure out how to manage it.”

With the announcement of the draw for Paris, the British men know that they will be competing relatively early, in subdivision one on Saturday 27 July, starting at 11am local time (CEST). So, does this work for Jarman? Is he an early bird?

“It depends, to be honest. If I’m in the routine of being up early I actually really do enjoy getting up early. There’s something about the first hour of sunlight of the day. That’s just really refreshing, especially in the summertime before it gets too hot.

“I’ve also been a 1pm get-up kind of person before, so that’s both worlds, I guess.”

In Paris, there’s a day’s break for the men while the women take to the podium on the Sunday, then on the Monday (29 July) it’s the men’s team competition, starting 5.30pm local time, a day’s break and then the men’s all-around final. Another day to rest, then three consecutive days of apparatus finals follow, combining both women’s and men’s events.

So, the early start for men’s qualifying is followed by late afternoon competitions for all the finals, for which the GB team will prepare thoroughly at squad camps at the national training centre, Lilleshall.

So, is Jarman a fan of the athlete favourite – micro-sleeps – to top up the balance if needed, particularly if overseas with a big time difference?

“I can sleep anywhere, but I try not to because, whenever I have a nap, I will always feel terrible afterwards. So I just try and stay awake until I have to go to bed at night.”

Managing time differences won’t be a factor for the Olympic Games in France, with the nations just one hour apart – one less thing for Team GB to incorporate in their comprehensive Olympic plans.

All part of being an elite gymnast, Jarman is not phased by the changes, it’s just part of the sport. Besides, the team are taking the train to France, so there will be plenty of chances there for the team to stretch their legs en route to Paris.