Dan talks about his first trial

Dan has just had his first trial for the World Championships. Find out how it went and what's coming up next by viewing his blog here!

Competition trials are just around the corner for Dan

After a tough week of training, Dan catches up with Opus Energy Challenge blog followers to tell them what the next few weeks holds in store for him.

Which competitions is he hoping to be selected for?

Find out in his latest Opus Energy Challenge blog, here.

Dan asks us to wish him luck…

In this week's video blog for Opus Energy Challenge, we get a feel for how much training Dan’s doing. Good luck Dan!

Dan talks tans and training

Fresh from his holiday, in this video Dan catches up with Opus Energy Challenge video blog followers.

Dan says: "... I think it was great just to get away, just to relax my body and my mind ready for the next couple of months because they're going to be really tough..."

Click here to view the Opus Energy Challenge blog and find out where he went, who he went with, and how his tan looks!

Daniel Keatings and Team GB are having fun in training

Dan checks in with Opus Energy Challenge video blog followers from Lilleshall Training Centre.

A clip from the video is below, or you can click here to view it on YouTube:

"... Nobody’s really got a competition coming up at the moment, so everybody’s trying some new skills that they want to put into their routines towards the end of the year, so training’s you know, really good fun and there’s a great atmosphere at the moment. I think even though it is fun it’s quite important to have weeks like this because..."

We'll be catching up with Dan again next week - looking forward to it!

Daniel Keatings and Opus Energy combine forces to motivate students

Dan visited Northampton College yesterday to motivate the students as they plan for their futures. Opus Energy’s HR team were also on hand to host CV checking sessions.

Find out more about it from Dan’s video blog, which he filmed on the day!

On a high after the gold medal win!

Following Dan’s medal success in Russia last weekend, we hear from him about how he’s feeling and his future plans.

Watch him here, in his latest Opus Energy Challenge video blog!

A personal note from Dan

Following his gold medal win in the pommel horse final at the European Gymnastics Championships this weekend, Dan Keatings has got in touch with a personal message for Opus Energy:

“I’m absolutely buzzing!!! After a difficult two years with injuries I finally got a chance to defend my European pommel horse crown that I won in 2010.

“After a slight error in qualifications I found myself scraping into the final in last place and I knew that I would have to put in a faultless routine in the final if I was to have any chance of reclaiming the Pommel Horse title. Well the rest is now history as I executed a near perfect routine to claim back my European crown at the first opportunity and not only that but I also beat the reigning Olympic champion and the Olympic bronze medallist in the final.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to send a huge thank you to Opus Energy for continuing to support me through what has possibly been the toughest two years of my sporting career.

“Thanks for your support.”

Look out for Dan’s next video blog for Opus Energy Challenge, which we’ll receive next week!

Congratulations to Dan!

Dan Keatings won a gold medal in the pommel horse final at the at the European Gymnastics Championships this weekend!

Dan says: "I was disappointed not to have made the Olympic Team last year but did the only thing that I knew I could and that was to train harder than ever and prove that I am still on track for Rio 2016. I am so glad to have won in such a tough field, beating 2 Olympic medallists along the way."

We can't wait to hear from Dan with more details when we receive his next blog, due next week! To see his last blog on the Opus Energy Challenge website, click here.

Dan Keatings (right) wins Gold in Pommel Final of European Championships Max Whitlock Bronze (left)

Will Dan win a medal this weekend?

Dan has successfully qualified at the European Gymnastics Championships, meaning he will be competing at the weekend in the pommel horse final.

Dan tweeted: “Yay bit wobbly but still made the pommel final!! Now to iron out those mistakes over the next few days and smash it up :)”

To keep up-to-date with how Dan gets on at the weekend, keep an eye on his Twitter account @DanKeatings.

On behalf of the Opus Energy team, we wish you the best of luck Dan!

Jetting off to the European Champs!

Dan finds time to catch up with Opus Energy Challenge video blog followers as he waits to board his flight to Russia, ahead of the all-important European Gymnastics Championships this week.

Watch his video blog here.

He's waiting to find out what day’s he’ll be competing, so keep your eyes on the British Gymnastics website for updates.

Good luck Dan!

Great news for Dan!

It's clear that all of the hard work and training has paid off as last week it was announced that Dan has been selected for the 2013 European Artistic Gymnastic Championships.

The Championships are set to be held on 14th - 22nd April in Moscow. Great Britain will be represented by six men and four women, where competition will take place for both all-around and individual apparatus titles.

You can read more about Dan making the team on the Team GB website.

Dan puts in a strong performance at the British Championships

A relaxed and happy Dan chats to Opus Energy Challenge followers about his performance at the British Championships this weekend, which saw him win five medals! Take a look at the medals here.

Congratulations Dan!

Dan hopes that practise makes perfect!

In Dan’s latest Opus Energy Challenge blog, we catch up with him as he finishes a day’s training at the gym.

He’s been busy practising his routines, ready for this weekend’s British Championships.

Enjoy the video, which you can view here, and good luck to Dan for the weekend!

Dan’s video blog from the English Championships

Dan filmed his latest Opus Energy Challenge video blog while he was on the side-lines of the English Championships arena.

View the video on the Opus Energy YouTube channel here!

Previously unpublished: Dan’s thoughts on Louis Smith on Strictly

We’ve been looking back at what Dan told the Northamptonshire Telegraph in December, before it was published in the New Year.

He certainly had a hunch that Louis Smith would do well on Strictly Come Dancing! Here’s what he told the Northamptonshire Telegraph:

"Louis is good! He’s always been good at dancing – I know that because I’ve grown up with him. He’s doing really well. It’s great news for gymnastics too, as it wasn’t recognised years ago but now Louis is being rewarded. 

"I’m not sure that I would go on Strictly myself, I wouldn’t do as well as Louis!"
Check back in a few weeks for new Q&As from Dan’s interview.

In the meantime, you can look forward to Dan’s video blog for Opus Energy Challenge next week, when he’ll report on the English Championships, which are being held this weekend. Good luck Dan!

Dan’s first video blog for Opus Energy Challenge!

We're excited to announce that Dan's sent us his first ever video blog. He filmed it from a rather unusual location: a jeep on safari in South Africa!

The video and its transcript are on the Opus Energy Challenge site here.

We hope you enjoy it!

Good news for Dan Keatings and Louis Smith

In Dan's latest blog for Opus Energy, he chats about why his club – which he trains at with Louis Smith – is celebrating this week. Here's a snippet:

After launching an ambitious £650,000 expansion plan three years ago, my gymnastics club in Huntingdon received some fantastic news last week: it was announced that the Olympic Legacy Fund was donating almost £50,000 towards our goal of building a new gym. With pledges for more than half of the money already secured, the donation from the Olympic Legacy Fund is a massive endorsement to what our club has achieved over the last two Olympic cycles, and in our commitment to providing Gymnastics For All.

Find out all about it in this Opus Energy Challenge blog.

Previously unpublished: the interview, part 1

Following Dan’s interview with the Northamptonshire Telegraph, published in the New Year, we thought we’d take a look at some of the other answers from Dan on the day. The first instalment is below:

Northamptonshire Telegraph: 2012 was a mixed year for you, how did you keep yourself motivated?

Daniel Keatings: Obviously it was very disappointing to not be picked for the Olympics as competing in your own country is everything you dream of. That said, there were a lot of positives as my team showed its strength and there’s a huge sporting legacy for gymnastics to carry on succeeding.

Check back every couple of weeks for new Q&As from Dan’s interview!

Birthday 'celebrations'

Dan tells Opus Energy blog readers about how he 'celebrated' his 23rd birthday, his next trip overseas, and his New Year resolution.

Here's an extract from the blog:

This year, just like every other year, I found myself celebrating my 23rd Birthday in the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall and, as per usual, we kicked off the New Year by being pulled, poked and prodded by the GB medical and coaching staff.... 

Read all about it in his latest Opus Energy blog.