Shocked by the silver

Silver medalist Marcel Nguyen admitted his surprise on Wednesday after becoming the first male German gymnast to reach a podium in an individual Olympic final since 1936.

Nguyen, 24, went into the London Games as Germany's third-ranked gymnast behind Fabian Hambuchen and world silver-medallist Philipp Boy, but outstripped both to claim the greatest success of his career.

"I knew that I had to be perfect to win a medal and I didn't think I would be perfect before the competition. But I'm happy I was perfect today," he said.