BETH Tweddle is missing just one piece of precious metal from her collection – an Olympic medal.

And while yet another injury scare has cast doubts over whether she will be at her best in Beijing, the 23-year-old will pull out all the stops as she aims to crown a glittering career by adding an Olympic title to her world, European and Commonwealth golds.

A rib injury has led to Tweddle, from Bunbury, withdrawing from the all-around competition, where competitors take on all four artistic gymnastic disciplines, to concentrate on her two strongest events – the uneven bars and the floor.

But mum Ann thinks the extra rest could work in favour of Britain’s greatest ever gymnast, whose impressive medal collection includes world and European bars titles from 2006 and the 2002 Commonwealth all-around title.

“Beth would be happy with a medal of any colour, but the extra rest she will get from missing the vault and beam could be beneficial to her,” said Ann.

“She won Britain’s only ever world championship gold so there is no question she has the ability to win. Injuries are part and parcel of sport. The rib is not affecting her bars or floor work so in the long run it may not be a bad thing.”

If the injury does turn out to be a blessing in disguise, it is no more than Tweddle deserves.

Despite her unflinching commitment to her training, the former Chester Queen’s School pupil has still seen untimely injuries take her out of contention at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and impede the creation and bedding-in of a new routine for last year’s world championships.

Four years ago, a fully fit Tweddle failed to qualify for the bars final at the Athens Olympics and her chances of bouncing back in Beijing have been hindered by injuries to her calf, ankle and, most recently, ribs.

Her run of seven successive British all-around titles was ended in Guildford this year because she was fit enough to compete only in the bars – in which she won silver despite a falling off during her routine.

In April, Tweddle had picked up a silver medal on the floor at the European Championships in France but had to settle for a disappointing fourth in the bars.

“She is in her own world now,” said Ann, whose daughter trains with coach Amanda Kirby at Liverpool Gymnastics Club and plans to retire from the sport next year. “We will not really get to speak to her until the end of the competition. She is totally in Amanda’s hands.

“We will be going out to see her – myself, her dad Jerry and her brother James – and she may come and speak to us after her round in the arena, but she has to focus on her job.

“There are about 30 people going to support her, we all have T-shirts printed up and everyone in the village has been sending cards and asking how she is.

“It is great to know people are excited about her prospects.

“Now it is up to her.”