Earlier, Becky Downie – competing at her third Olympics – finished seventh (13.633) in the uneven bars final after falling during her high-difficulty routine as Kaylia Nemour secured gold (15.700) to win Algeria’s first ever gymnastics medal.
American gymnast Simone Biles just missed out on qualification for the uneven bars final, the only apparatus she has not made the final in. She will go in the beam and floor finals on Monday having already won individual all-around, team and vault titles.
Jarman won bronze on floor on Saturday and was expected to add another medal on his favoured apparatus but Hepworth, competing at his first Games, sprung a surprise with two consistent vaults which scored highly for execution.
Jarman, 22, posted a higher degree of difficulty for one of his vaults but was punished for two slight steps on landing.
As the youngest member of Great Britain’s men’s Olympic team, who finished fourth in the team final, Hepworth has shown immense promise at this Games having also reached three apparatus finals in his first World Championships last year.
At the age of five, Hepworth was diagnosed with Perthes disease – a condition that effects the hip joint – and was unable to participate in any sport for three years. But a visit to his school from gymnastics coach Craig Richardson inspired him to take up the sport.
His condition means one of his legs is four centimetres shorter than the other. But Harrogate-born Hepworth has said he thinks it helps him with his twisting skills.
He stated before the Games that his ambition was to one day be Olympic champion in the rings, but he beamed on the podium as he received his vault bronze after showing he is capable of excelling on more than just one apparatus.