LOUIS SMITH is a man who likes to set himself incredibly high targets then achieve them.
He won bronze at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, becoming the first British man to win a medal in individual gymnastics since 1908.
And at London 2012 he went further, winning a silver medal on the pommel horse and a bronze with the five-man gymnastics team.
But now the 23-year-old sporting hero is free from a life of constant training he has a new objective — and this time it is something in his private life.
Medal ... Louis shows his pride
“Rio is on the cards, but I have a few cards. Business, family. I have just got to find someone to settle down with, I definitely want kids before Rio.”
That is a lot to fit in to four years. But Louis says with a smile: “I am a motivated man, although, of course you don’t rush into things like that.”
Pulling open his shirt to reveal his two latest medals, it is clear the ripped Louis won’t be short of offers.
The gymnastics star steered clear of relationships in the run-up to London 2012.
His form had dipped after breaking up with his previous girlfriend and he didn’t want that to happen again before the biggest competition of his life.
Louis explains: “Women can break you. After splitting up with my last girlfriend I took it quite hard.
“So I made a rule that I would not be getting into any relationship again until after the Olympics, just in case I fell madly in love again then something went wrong and it threatened to derail me.
“Now I am single and looking. Any women out there who think you are worthy, drop me a line.
“I need to find a good girl who is relaxed, someone who likes to have a cuddle on the sofa.”
Cool ... Louis competes at the Games
He has also become a gay icon, which he is comforable with.
Louis, from Peterborough, said: “I don’t mind at all. The support I have, whether from gay or straight people, is fantastic. It’s flattering.”
Since he completed his events, Louis has been letting off steam enjoying London’s night life.
He reveals: “I’ve been out a few times to Chinawhite, Rose, Mahiki and Omega House. It’s nice to unwind after such a good Games, have a glass of champagne.”
Louis, who is also a talented singer, reached the fourth round of auditions for The X Factor in 2009 and can count Aston Merrygold from JLS as one of his biggest fans.
They grew up together in Peterborough and Aston almost missed a flight to America so he could watch Louis’s medal-winning display.
Louis explains: “His driver was waiting to pick him up and he said he wouldn’t leave until I did my performance on the pommel horse.”
His biggest supporter, though, is undoubtedly devoted mum Elaine Petch, 47.
She she could barely dare to watch her son during his individual performance, peeking out from behind a Union Flag.
Elaine, a hairdresser, brought up Louis alone after his Jamaican father Claude Smith left 20 years ago. She would take him to his gym club on the bus or back of a bike because she couldn’t afford to run a car. Louis says: “I can’t imagine what she felt like, a single parent having to sacrifice so much over the years.
“We didn’t have a lot. She must have missed out on so much.
“I remember having to sit on the back of her bike.”
Yet, despite her profession and his obvious devotion for his mum, Louis smiles and says: “I don’t let her touch my hair.”
He keeps in contact with his father, a bus driver in Nottingham, and invited him to watch his event at the North Greenwich Arena last week.
Joy ... athletes thank their fans
He has also taken strength from thinking about his grandmother, Dilys Petch, who died in 2009.
Louis explains: “I say a few words to my nan before I am going to do a pommel horse routine.
“I think it helps. I like to think she is looking over me. My track record in competition is good. To go through three routines in these games without falling off, I think someone is looking over me.”
Now the Olympic party is over Louis is planning to return to Peterborough.
He has been building his own house there, a just reward for the dedicated young man who was brought up in a council house.
Louis, though, has not earned a fortune from his chosen sport.
Regarding his new home, he says: “It is a nice little starting project, a nice little investment.
“I’m a gymnast not a footballer, I’m not on a six-figure number yet.”
He says he may go into fashion once he has finished as a sportsman and the reggae fan does not rule out singing again, despite being voted out when he tried for The X Factor.
In the meantime he will continue to compete. He takes his position as a role model for British gymnastics seriously.
Passion ... Louis has become a role model
He scored the same points overall as the winner Krisztian Berki, from Hungary, but got a slightly lower execution score, where the judges deduct for errors in a performance. Despite his disappointment Louis was a good sportsman and quickly went over to congratulate Berki.
He said: “There have been a lot of remarks made such as ‘You’ve been robbed’, but I think it is important for kids to see me go up and congratulate Krisztian.
“That’s the way we should conduct ourselves. Gymnastics is a very militarised discipline and those in it feel like a family.”
Louis, who was hyperactive as a child and was diagnosed with ADHD, believes other children can find a purpose in life through sport.
He said: “Sport can be very influential in helping you find the right path in life. Whe I was seven or eight years old I had an audition for the choristers and they offered me a full scholarship to a private school to sing full time. I chose to carry on with the gymnastics.
“But I think if I put as much effort into singing or anything else as I did gymnastics I would be pretty successful as well.”
So it seems that if Louis does set his mind to it, he will be settled down with kids by 2016.
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