Rio 2016: Amy Tinkler takes bronze in women's floor gymnastics as Simone Biles wins fourth gold

The 16-year-old will now return home to discover the results of her GCSEs

Tinkler turned in a performance of impeccable precision and style (Getty)

Amy Tinkler performed her floor routine to the theme of Pretty Woman, a film which screened nine years before she was born. She stands 4ft 9ins tall. She wears size 3 shoes. That seems to encapsulate what her individual bronze, taking the British gymnastic medal count to seven here, actually means.

The 16-year-old is the youngest British Olympic medal winner since swimmer Sarah Hardcastle, who was 15 when she medalled in the pool at Los Angeles in 1984. And the gymnastics squad had not even finished when she stepped up to take her medal. Nile Wilson also claimed bronze on the horizontal bars.

The ensuing discussion with Tinkler on Monday night was one that will stay in the mind: a 16-year-old, who will return to England’s North East to collect her GCSE results a week from now, being quizzed for all of those biographical details that come with Olympian status. And being so wonderfully unprepared.

Her father Michael’s line of work, for example. He was “a manager,” she said. Of what? She was asked. “Just of a company! I don’t know which!”

But there was nothing unknowing when she performed. The press galleries were packed for a glimpse of that kaleidoscope of invention called Simone Biles, looking for her fourth gold medal, at odds of 300/1 on. Biles peered up at Tinkler from her position, seated on the floor, as they processed from the centre of the auditorium to prepare. There was avoiding the size of the challenge.

Perhaps it was the fearlessness of the young which saw her ease through a double salco and execute her double pike with such ease, securing her 14.933. One of Biles’ landings was slightly imperfect though her overall display, muscularity and poise took her a full point ahead of Tinkler at 15.966.

South Durham Gymnastics Club’s finest then faced an agonising ten-minute wait, to see if she would be dislodged from second. The American stadium commentator did not help the anxiety by making as many references to her as to any of the other competitors. “How would she feel right now?” he asked, as the last competitor was about to perform. Two minutes later, Biles’ compatriot Alex Raismann edged Tinkler out of silver.

The teenager did not have a care in the world, as she reflected on relationships developed with Biles and the other Americans here these past ten days and how far she has come. It was only last year she was competing for - and winning - a second British Junior Championships title. “It doesn’t seem real at all at the minute,” she said.

The audience had warmed to her choice of music. “Yes I’ve seen the film,” she said. “Me and my coach [Rachel Wright] just chose it. As soon as we heard it we just loved it. I could hear the noise. As I was doing the routine they were clapping along. That definitely helps the performance as well.”

The presence of Beth Tweddle, who claimed the same bronze on the floor in London four years ago, is quite clearly monumental.

“I saw her a few days ago,” Tinkler said. “Tt’s just incredible knowing that I’m following in her footsteps. Every British gymnast she’s just been such a huge inspiration and to be able to go and get a bronze level like she did in London is amazing.”

Nile said he slightly modified his planned routine while performing his routine. “It was down to split second decisions on the bar, how I felt,” he said, after American Danell Leyva edged him out of silver – a replica of Tinkler’s finish. It was she who won the day. “I wasn’t expecting any finals,” she said.