London 2012 Olympics: Louis Smith leads Britain's gymnastics
charge  European championships in Montpelier will show how far
men's team has progressed since the Beijing Olympics Daniel
Purvis of GB Daniel Purvis helped Great Britain's men qualify
for the games at the Olympic Test event in London in January.
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian  Four years ago few
would have tipped British men's gymnastics to be among the best
in the world and pushing for medals at the London Olympics. As
little as two years ago Britain's men had never qualified for
the team final at the European championships.  How things have
changed. the men's European championships begin in Montpellier
and even without Daniel Keatings, the injured world all-around
silver medallist and European pommels champion, Great Britain is
expected to impress. Five senior gymnasts will be hoping to make
their mark on the competition that forms an important staging
post on the journey to the Olympic Games. Germany and Russia are
the favourites to ta