Making the cross-over from minority sport that captivates the nation for a couple of weeks once every four years to minority sport that takes root in our sporting culture is an inexact science.
It probably needs a few gold medals, action that grabs the attention on screen as well as in the flesh, the odd knighthood and a sprinkling of reality TV stardust.
Cycling and rowing have pulled it off, and the signs are that gymnastics has made the big leap (with a flawless landing, of course).
Breakthrough Olympic success was followed up with a memorable Commonwealth Games for British competitors.
Max Whitlock has made the shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year, Beth Tweddle won Dancing on Ice and Louis Smith raised aloft the Strictly glitterball.
And then there’s the two Daniels, who have worn the Scottish vest with pride and distinction for a number of years, becoming well-known names north of the border.
One of them – Keatings – hasn’t made it to Montpellier for this week’s European Championships. But as British senior all-round champion, the other – Purvis certainly has.
Purvis, who has family roots in Dundee, believes the popularity of gymnastics is at an all-time high.
“There’s no doubt that the Olympics and Commonwealth Games have increased the interest in our sport,” he said. “Which is what you hope will happen.
“There has been a big impact. The crowds at the British Championship this year were bigger than they’ve ever been. It was packed.
“It really seems to have taken hold, and young kids are taking it up, who probably wouldn’t have a few years ago.
“It wasn’t a sport where you would expect to get national recognition before. But that’s changed.”
And if Smith’s paso doble and Argentinian tango have played their part in the gymnastics boom, that’s fine by Purvis.
“There’s no doubt it helped promote the sport,” he admitted.
“People were always stopping to ask me, how’s you mate Louis getting on in Strictly?
“That has to be a good thing. Just don’t expect me to follow him, because I can’t dance!”
It might be a bit of a stretch to describe Purvis as a Dundee gymnast, but he’s a frequent visitor to this part of the world and had a big Tayside fan club at the SSE Hydro for last summer’s Commonwealth Games, when he won gold, silver and bronze.
“My mum’s from Dundee and I spent a lot of time up there when I was being brought up,” he said.
“There’s lot of family on my mum’s side who still live in and around the city and I try to go up a few times a year.
“Thankfully British Gymnastics were really good with tickets for the Commonwealth Games and I was able to get a few, so they came down from Dundee.
“That helped make the Glasgow experience extra emotional.
“It was great getting a bronze in the Olympics but I didn’t do that well in the individual.
“So I committed to push for Glasgow and that went as well as I could have hoped.
“London was amazing but Glasgow was just as good an atmosphere. Because of my Scottish roots even more so, maybe.
“I’ll never forget what it was like to perform in front of that crowd. It was a totally different feeling and really pushed me on.
“The prospect of going back there for the Worlds later this year is a real motivation.
“I’ve been so lucky that there’s been one big event after another in this country during my time in the sport.”
Purvis started medalling at the top level as a 20-year-old but, such is the short life span of an elite gymnast, he’s starting to feel like a veteran at 24.
“I’ll be 25 later this year and I’ve been involved in gymnastics since I was seven,” he explained. “It’s pretty much been my life.
“There aren’t many all-rounders still going at that age.
“Rio isn’t too far away and I’d be happy just to make the Olympic team. But I’m not looking any further than that.
“We’ve got real strength in depth in Britain and there are youngsters coming through. Because of that, you know that we will have a strong team in Rio. We all push each other on.”
He added: “It’s quite daunting to think what will happen after I finish competing.
“I would love to stay in the sport perhaps become a coach or open my own gym.
“Who knows, maybe it could be in Dundee.”