Team GB star who won bronze in Paris hints at switching international allegiance ahead of 2028 Olympics

A team GB star who claimed bronze at the Olympics in Paris could switch international allegiance in the future.

Gymnast Jake Jarman picked up his first Olympic medal after his strong showing in the men's floor event.

The European vault champion scored 14.933, with only Israel's Artem Dolgopyat and gold medallist Carlos Yulo of the Philippines ahead of him.

It meant that the Philippines technically had two representatives on the podium as Jarman has strong links to the Southeast Asian country.

Though he was born in Peterborough in 2001, Jarman's mother is from Cebu and he lived in the Philippines for two years as a youngster.

With his dual citizenship, he therefore qualifies to represent the Philippines.

Typically the rule is that a three-year period must pass since an athlete represented their former country before they can compete elsewhere.

However there is always the option for the IOC Executive Board to give an exemption and Cynthia Carrion, the president of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, claimed Jarman is ready to switch allegiance for the next Olympics in Los Angeles.

Image: Getty

"Next Olympics, he wants to compete for the Philippines," Carrion said ahead of the Paris showpiece, as per Metro.

"So we’ll seek FIG’s permission. I will write a letter and we’ll see if FIG says yes or no."

But while Carrion was very sure about Jarman's next step, the 22-year-old still sees himself as a member of team GB for now and expects that to continue across the pond in four years.

However, he does still harbour hopes of representing the Philippines and fulfilling that dream - potentially at the end of his career.

"For me, competing for the Philippines, it would be amazing, but at the moment, it’s hard for me to make a decision like that," Jarman said in an interview with Philippine Olympic Committee media, as reported by GMA News Online.

"I’ve got family back in the UK, but I think for me, if maybe I’m in the end of my career, maybe I’m still at peak performance, who knows, maybe?

"I definitely would not be closing any doors but I think for the next four years, I’ll still be definitely with UK."

Image: Getty

Jarman spent two years living in the Philippines between the ages of three and five and has said in the past that he is still in contact with his relatives on his mother's side.

And after his heroics in Paris, the 2023 vault world champion has received messages of support from Filipino fans.

"I just want to say thank you," Jarman added.

"To have the support I’m seeing online from the other side of the world is mind-blowing to me.

"I never thought I’d be in a position like this. I just want to say thank you, it means the world to me."