By Rory McKee
NEWTOWNARDS’ Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan is to formally receive the highest civic honour from Ards and North Down Council at a ceremony in the new year.
Freedom of the Borough will be conferred on the decorated gymnast, 26, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in sport and his exceptional contribution to the Borough.
The decision to bestow the honour on the European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic Gold medallist was confirmed at the full council meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, following a cross-party motion proposed by Alderman Stephen McIlveen and seconded by councillor Steven Irvine.
Born and raised in Newtownards, McClenaghan has become a global sporting superstar while remaining deeply connected to his roots.
Last summer, at the Olympic Games in Paris, the ‘prince of the pommel’ achieved a lifetime ambition by completing the full set of gold medals as he cemented his place among the sport’s greats.
McClenaghan is the only gymnast in history to hold European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic titles on a single apparatus.
The council will officially present McClenaghan with the Freedom of the Borough in a formal ceremony for invited guests on Friday, January 23.
As part of the celebrations, there will be a public display of his skills on Sunday, January 25 at McClenaghan’s state-of-the-art training base within the Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex.
McClenaghan was cleared to return to full training last month after underdoing surgery on a shoulder injury which ruled him out of this year’s World Championships.
He has documented his road back to recovery by sharing a series of videos with his social media followers.
Further information around ticketing and full details of January’s event will be communicated shortly by the council.
