Joe Fraser dedicated his history-making European title to British Gymnastics’ band of brothers on a magical night in Munich.
The Birmingham star became the first British man to win a European all-around gold medal after claiming a remarkable hat-trick of titles at the Commonwealth Games.
Fraser, 23, ruptured his appendix and fractured his foot in the build-up to his home Games but extended his golden summer with a dazzling display last night.
He pulled off a bold, gravity-defying routine on the high bar to hold his nerve and beat Turkish gymnasts Ahmet Onder and Adem Asil to gold.
Fraser said: “I can’t even explain it – I class this team as my brothers.
“I’ve spent more time with them than I have my own family, so we know each other inside and out, back to front.
“They’ve believed every step of the way in times I didn’t.
“I always said one day this will make some big story.
“I don’t know if I actually believed – I knew I could do it but I’ve actually made it a reality, and I couldn’t have done it without the team.”
Fraser and teammates James Hall, Giarnni Regini-Moran, Courtney Tulloch and Jake Jarman – who finished eighth last night – will now join forces for the team event on Saturday bidding to emulate their Commonwealth title for Team England.
At Munich’s Olympic Stadium, Welsh star Jake Heyward won a stunning silver medal in the 1500m after brilliantly chasing home world champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Heyward, 23, clocked a time of 3:34.44 to finish ahead of bronze medallist Mario Garcia and British teammates Matt Stonier and Neil Gourley in fifth and eighth.
Earlier in the day, Jake Wightman and Olympic silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson both booked their place in the 800m semi-finals.
Wightman, who has opted for the shortened distance to showcase his versatility this week, clocked a time of 1:45.94 while Hodkinson, who won world and Commonwealth silvers this summer, won her heat in 2:03.72.
Scottish star Jemma Reekie also progressed in her 800m heat while over 200m, Dina Asher-Smith, Jodie Williams, Zharnel Hughes, Charlie Dobson and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake all scorched into the final after Daryll Neita had withdrawn to recover from cramp suffered while winning her 100m bronze medal.
British table tennis star Tin-Tin Ho was dumped out of the singles competition in the last 32, while the canoe sprint action also got underway ahead of a busy weekend of action at Munich’s Olympic Regatta Centre.
The multi-sport European Championships Munich 2022, featuring Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Canoe Sprint, Cycling, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Rowing, Sport Climbing, takes place 11th-21st August on the 50th anniversary of the Olympics Games in the German city. Watch daily live coverage across BBC One, Two, Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website
