Bulgaria's gym veteran seals sixth Olympic spot

Bulgaria's gymnastics veteran Jordan Jovtchev said Wednesday he had managed to qualify for this year's Olympic Games in London, making him the only gymnast to compete in six Olympics. "I am very happy... I can't be any other way," a very moved Jovtchev told Bulgarian national radio over the phone from the O2 Arena in London, which hosted the 2012 Olympics test event. "I was a bit anxious facing a hard six-event competition where many famous gymnasts failed to win a spot so I am fully contented now," he added. Jovtchev had finished 23rd in the all-round event on Tuesday that distributed 30 tickets to the London Games in July. The gymnast, who turns 39 next month, said he had put all his effort into qualifying, hoping to become the first male gymnast to compete in six successive Olympics. "I had the will and preparedness to do it, I trained and I am happy to have made it. Yet, there's still time left and I hope that all goes well for me to be able to make it to London," Jovtchev said. The four-times World Champion and winner of one silver and three bronze Olympic titles had battled a grave shoulder injury to compete Tuesday. "I still want to make finals and medals. But it is very, very hard. It's not like it was four or eight years ago and I am fully aware of that... But my mere appearance will be something phenomenal for Bulgarian gymnastics and for me," Jovtchev said Wednesday. The already greying veteran, hailed by sports commentators for his immaculate technique, superb strength work and beautiful shoulder positions on his star still rings exercise, has headed Bulgaria's gymnastics federation since 2009. He said Wednesday he would only concentrate on the still rings event in London and not compete in the other disciplines, even if he won half his medals in the floor exercise. "I will concentrate on the still rings only. It will be no use to waste efforts on the other exercises where I stand zero chances of making something bigger than average performances," he said.