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Sam Oldham produced fireworks on the pommel at a Sky Live event on Thursday to help mark the six-month countdown for Rio. The 22-year-old gymnast was joined at Sky HQ in Osterley with fellow Sky Academy Sports Scholars Olivia Breen, Savannah Marshall, Jessica Judd, Holly Bradshaw, Mark English and Quillan Isidore.It was an incredible day of action, streamed live across all the countrys Sky sites, and was a chance to see close up some of Britains and Irelands hottest athletes battling for Olympic qualification.Pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw kick-started the day in lively fashion with a morning gym session and stretch class.Up next was a visit to the Sky Academy Skills Studio where Paralympic sprinter and long jumper Olivia Breen and 1500m runner Jessica Judd saw news reports being made. Boxer Savannah Marshall in fighting mood as she reveals her Rio dreams And then it was time for six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy to pass on his wisdom, alongside 800m runner and guest reporter for the day Mark English, Sam, Olivia and Holly on stage for an open Q&A session.Hoy, Britains most successful Olympian who retired from cycling in 2013, said: What a great day at Sky HQ with the Sky Scholars to mark six months to Rio. Its an incredibly exciting time.English, a rapidly rising one-lap athlete from Ireland, added: Meeting Chris was the wow factor. I asked him what he thought set him apart from the rest.He told me that it was the mind-set he had on an average Wednesday in the Winter that differed to his team-mates, and not necessarily the mentality on race day, which was enlightening. Holly Bradshaw leads a stretching session to start the day at Sky on Thursday He also talked about his approach to gym training and was very open, honest and erudite in the knowledge he shared. I was extremely lucky to ask him these questions and can hopefully use his advice to improve over the next six months.It was then time for Marshall to show off her pugilistic skills with a boxing masterclass with Sky Academy mentor and Sky Sports expert Johnny Nelson.BMX star Isidore proved an inspiration on two wheels with a spinning session. He admitted: I had a great time but Ive lost my voice with all the shouting!The day was wrapped up as hundreds of Sky staff packed inside the Hub building to witness Sam exhibit his pommel skills next to his mentor and Sky Sports football reporter Geoff Shreeves. Sky Academy Sports Scholars reveal the benefits of the tailored support programme theyve had since London 2012 A weary Oldham, who faces a tense qualifying battle within a very competitive GB gymnastics squad, said: Ive had such an awesome day at Sky for the Sky Scholarships.Its countdown to Rio and Ive got to be on my toes for another six months. Im so proud to be a Sky Scholar.English, who has already run the Olympic qualifying time, added: Knowing Ill be competing on that stage in Rio makes me even more motivated.Its days like these at Sky that show us Scholars the true value of the support we get from the Scholarship. A great day - now for the Olympics! Also See: About the Scholarship Meet the athletes Blogs Videos Galleries Brian Leetch Rangers Jersey . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. Eddie Giacomin Jersey . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/marc-staal-hockey-jersey/ .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Mika Zibanejad Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Adam Graves Jersey . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Columbus Crew SC will have a clearer picture of its playoff aspirations after playing at the Chicago Fire on Thursday.The Crew (8-12-11) sits eighth in the Eastern Conference with 35 points, seven back of Philadelphia for the sixth and final postseason berth. D.C. United is fifth with 43.Columbus, with three matches left, can reach 44 points while the teams in qualifying positions have two remaining, so the game-in-hand comes into play vs. the Fire, who own a 6-16-9 record and are already eliminated from playoff contention.It is a great opportunity to finish the season on a positive side, Fire coach Veljko Paunovic said. The motivation is good and were working towards that goal. We all know how intense this rivalry is for our supporters. That is another reason we have to do our best to win the game.The Fire would love to end the Crews playoff hopes with a win or tie.dddddddddddd A draw for Columbus means the best it can finish with is 42 points, and Philadelphia owns the tiebreaker.Chicago also has incentive after the Crew beat the Fire 3-0 in Columbus on Oct. 1 in the last match for both teams. Harrison Afful, Justin Meram and former Fire midfielder Dilly Duka scored. Duka also had an assist.In a dim season for the Fire, a somewhat bright spot has been its 5-3-7 record at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.Chicago is a team thats tough to play against, particularly in Chicago, Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter said. Add to that were fighting for our playoff existence right now and its going to be a tough game. ' ' '