By Veronique Bury FIG Editor.

Beijing (CHN) NIS FIG Office, August 9, 2008: Four years after having missed his chance at the qualifying events of the Athens Olympic Games, Greek Vlasios Maras, a high bar hotshot (3-times European champion 2002, 2004 and 2006 and 2-times world champion 2001 and 2002), has once again watched his dream to go to the finals disappear into thin air. Vlasios fell during his high bar routine Saturday, and finished his vault with a poor landing.

Tell us what happened during your high bar routine?
To start, my first release (Pegan) did not go well, and I lost momentum for the remainder of my exercise. That's what caused me to fall today. What a disappointment. I spent a lot of time preparing for these Olympic Games, opting to yield the all-around to concentrate on an Olympic medal, the one medal I still lack.

You currently have a 15.925 point average in vault. Will this score get you into the finals?
Before the competition, I had a good chance of accessing the finals with my vaults. But I touched the mat in my second vault, a Tsukahara double salto backward piked. I don't believe I’ll make it to the finals now. My score is correct, but not high enough.

What are your hopes for the future?
I’m small in stature for a gymnast, which will hopefully allow me to continue practising for awhile still. I’d like to compete until I'm 30; after that, we’ll see. I'm disappointed. I won't be watching the high bar final. I don't care anymore. I needed to qualify for the final today.

Are you already considering the London Olympic Games?
Yes. I'll still be around at the next Olympiad, and I want to participate. I'll focus on the all-around, maybe concentrating on vault.