Devastating moment Louis Smith falls off his horse! Heartbreak for Team GB's gymnasts as star's slip hands bronze medal to China 

There was heartbreak for Great Britain's gymnasts after self-proclaimed team leader Louis Smith fell off the pommel horse during the final.

Smith was halfway through his routine when he looked to lose his bearings and dismounted, before gathering his thoughts and completing his action.

The slip would cost the team third place in the final, with Japan taking home the gold, followed by Russia and then China. 

There was heartbreak for Team GB's gymnasts after self-proclaimed team leader Louis Smith fell off the pommel horse during the final

Smith was halfway through his routine when he looked to lose his bearings and dismounted, before gathering his thoughts and completing his action

Smith looked disappointed having fallen off the apparatus halfway through his routine

The slip would cost the team third place in the final, with Japan taking home the gold, followed by Russia and then China

The British team, which also included Kristian Thomas, Nile Wilson and Brinn Bevan, had been in third place for most of the competition.

But faced a huge task on the final rotation after being nudged into fourth by reigning champions China.

Smith, with a top not on his head, then fell during a difficult routine.

Whitlock, the reigning world champion on the apparatus, held his nerve and put in an impressive performance, scoring 15.91 but it was not enough and GB missed out on bronze two points.

It came after Britain's 'bad a**' gymnast offered a glimpse into his preparation routine, hours before the men's team took on the sport's super-powers. 

But the nerves didn't seem to be getting him as he chronicled his Olympic experience for his fans on social media.

'Just chilling the village,' he said in a selfie video from the tennis courts in the Rio Olympic set-up.

'Watching Djokovic doing a bit of practicing, listening to Candy Shop by 50 Cent, just a normal day really, ha!' 

Great Britain's Louis Smith looks dejected following the pommel horse routine, during which he slipped off

His teammates quickly rallied around the gymnast, he claimed to have taken on a fatherly role in the group

Ready: Smith shared this snap of his teammates on August 6, with the caption 'On the bus en route  to our 1st day of Olympic competition. Let's go lads... so ready for this'

Bad hair day: The 27-year-old shared this snap of his famous top-knot undone, with one fan suggesting he compete in tonight's final like this

Relaxing: Smith turned up the heat in another snapshot, showing his boxers strung out on a washing line with a Union Flag t-shirt as he wound down in a Jacuzzi after a day's training

'Just chilling': Olympic gymnast Louis Smith gave an insight into the life of an athlete on Instagram - but didn't seem to be letting the nerves get to him

Healthy: As well as pictures of the team in training, Smith also shares snapshots of the life of a gymnast - including this photo of a paleo meal he was about to tuck into

The 27-year-old, who describes himself as a 'British bad a** gymnast' in his Twitter bio, has attracted international praise for his new top knot hairstyle. 

But he wasn't looking so groomed on Instagram today, releasing an image of a cloud of hair that had escaped from the bun with the caption 'Oh my Lordy'. 

One follower asked 'Is this a wig?' while another laughed 'that's what the top knot's hiding'. 

A third said: 'Please compete in today's final like this. It will make everyone's day!'

Training: The five-strong team took some down time, with Smith admitting he takes a paternal role in the group

 Enthusiastic: Smith shared this image with teammates Max Whitlock, Kristian Thomas, Nile Wilson and Brinn Bevan as they arrived in Rio

Limbering up: Smith and his teammates will be competing against challengers China, USA, Russia and Japan in tonight's final, which kicks off at 8pm GMT

And Smith turned up the heat in another snapshot, showing his boxers strung out on a washing line with a Union Flag t-shirt as he wound down in a Jacuzzi after a day's training. 

As well as pictures of the team in training, Smith also shares snapshots of the life of a gymnast. 

A large part of this is his diet and exercise regime, which includes a paleo diet - consisting mainly of fruit and vegetables, nuts and meat.  

Smith and his teammates Max Whitlock, Kristian Thomas, Nile Wilson and Brinn Bevan will be competing against challengers China, USA, Russia and Japan in tonight's final, which kicks off at 8pm GMT.

According to Smith, he has adopted something of a paternal role on the team. 

Selfie: The 27-year-old, who describes himself as a 'British bad a** gymnast' in his Twitter bio, has attracted international praise for his new top knot hairstyle. He said in response 'it's good to be different'

Exhausted: The team all looked a bit knackered as they headed home on Friday after a hard day of training

On the way: Teammate Max Whitlock, who will be going head to head with Smith on the pommel later in the comptition, shared this selfie of the team on the plane

Horseplay: Brinn Bevan posted this image of the team enjoying some down time together after a 'tough session'

Tourist: Gymnast Brinn Bevan shared this selfie in his Olympic kit with a view out over the Rio set-up. Union Flags are visible decorating his balcony

'There are certain things you do to help the younger guys,' he said. 'Sometimes Brinn is extremely focused and that's important. 

'But it's also key not to get too emotionally attached to what's going on, to just do what you're doing in training and relax. 

'We're trying to make the experience a fun one.'  

That Bevan is even in Rio is a demonstration of triumph over adversity. 

In November he suffered a leg break on landing from the vault at a low-key event, three weeks after being part of the British team who won a silver medal at the World Championships.  

Competition: Smith scored marginally less than his rival on the pommel with 15.700 against Whitlock’s 15.800, but said he was pleased with his display

Union: Both Smith and Whitlock favour the pommel, but have put their rivalry aside in order to focus on bringing in a victory for the team final

Great Britain are fancied to at least match their team bronze in London 2012, while either Whitlock or Smith could take the nation’s first Olympic gymnastics gold when they go head to head on their favoured pommel in the individual competition. 

But the pair will have to put their rivalry aside tonight to go for team glory.

Despite being rivals in their individual event of the pommel, the pair have presented a united front for the team event, embracing each other and insisting their immediate focus was tonight's final.

Smith scored marginally less than his rival on the pommel with 15.700 against Whitlock’s 15.800, but said he was pleased with his display.

Despite some promising team members and a leading preliminary score, Team GB will have to streamline their performances if they are to secure any medals tonight.