91Èȱ¬

Well, so far, believe the hype, because was devastatingly absorbing stuff.

I don't care if you can't tell a from a , to be standing yards from the action, watching open-mouthed as the legs of Britain's finest slice through the air like knives, quickens the pulse.

Not least of Smith himself. The job done, he flipped himself back down to earth, landed with aplomb and swept off the stage pointing to his supporters in delight.

But for a man who has , he exhibited nothing but humility and calm belief when we spoke.

"It's not about doing it for my country," he said, when asked if he had been nervous. "It's about my Nan, because she died last week. I didn't hold back tonight.

"But qualification is about getting through your routine, so mine was very controlled - at least, it felt very controlled to me."

Smith promises more for the final on Saturday and, faced with tough opponents, will need to produce it to stand a chance of a medal, admitting he is "a little bit" daunted by some of the performers on show.

"You have to realise I'm not the best in the world," he said, which took me aback. I hadn't expected him to say that.

"I can be at times, but I haven't got the physique to be the best gymnast in the world.

"There's one event I do, and I work incredibly hard in the gym to get where I want to be. It might not be at this competition, but I will prevail. I will end up on top and I will have my glory."

That is Smith. Team-mates and coaches say he's not cocky, just "self-assured". And they are right. He knows where he stands and knows what he has to do next.

Smith insists he is not cocky

But he exudes a flamboyant edge, a deep-seated drive and energy mixed with spark and tenacity, that's all too rare in sport.

"Louis is full of character," said , part of 91Èȱ¬ Sport's gymnastics commentary team at the Worlds.

"He's got so much gumption about him and when he goes into his routine he'll react to the situation.

"His coach may not know what he's going to do - and nor will he. If things are going his way, he might work in a little extra turn just to add some more difficulty.

"He has the image and he's changed the perception of gymnastics. He's put an edge on it and brought it into the 21st century for Britain."

Smith's coach, Paul Hall, admitted Smith occasionally tests his patience but anticipates an "exciting" final.

"I don't think any talented individual is easy to work with," said Hall, "and we have our moments, but it's a wonderful relationship.

"We have about four or five possibiltiies for his routine and sometimes I'm not quite sure which he'll do. I discuss it with him beforehand but he knows the game, he knows what to do, he knows how his body feels."

And once out in the arena, alone with a pommel horse in front of the judges, Smith knows how to command his audience.

"I wouldn't say I'm cocky but, in a sport like gymnastics, you have to come across as confident," he told me.

"The judges are like horses, they have a sixth sense. If you're afraid, they can pick that up, so I like to come across as confident in my routine. It helps me in my job and the judges pick up on it.

"I'm a fun, bouncy guy, but I know the difference between that and switching on and concentrating."

Regardless of what happens here at the O2, Smith's next challenge is to take the baton from as the pioneer of British gymnastics. He feels ready.

"I can take the reins," he said. "We've got a bright future for British gymnastics with some amazing juniors. Dan and I are doing well on the pommel horse and we've got a really strong team.

"If I can pass down some of my knowledge, then it won't just be me winning Olympic medals, it'll be the whole team doing well. It's hard for one person to get a medal, then one more, then one more. We need to go for it as a team, get everyone on board."

And finally, I tell him, forget . Simon Cowell et al when he went in front of them this summer, but I always had him down as more of a Strictly man.

"I'm a bit of a dancer. I wouldn't say I'm salsa or anything like that but I like to bust a few moves," he said. "I'd have to see what I was doing with my gym. I'd give it a go, though. I'd like to do something like that."

Britain has never had a male gold medallist at this level of gymnastics. But then, Britain hasn't had a gymnast quite like this.