RHYS McClenaghan has put injury behind him by claiming his first competition victory since his 2024 Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics.
The 26 year-old, who has been troubled with a shoulder injury that has delayed his return to competition, won a Gold Medal on the pommel horse at the World Cup event in Turkey, and immediately pledged to get better.
It was a result that will have pleased the Newtownards man whose first competition after returning from injury didn’t go according to plan when he failed to qualify for the final of the previous World Cup event in Azerbaijan.
Posting on his social media, McClenaghan said it was ‘comeback complete’. “I’m walking away from this World Cup with a gold medal but with a lot to work on,” he said.
McClenaghan went through shoulder surgery in July last year and has spent the winter getting back his fitness and honing his routine.
Speaking before returning to competitive gymnastics he said he is looking forward to getting back to the challenges of competing.
“I’m delighted that everything went to plan with the operation and I can make my way back to maintaining my spot as the best in the world at what I do,” said McClenaghan on social media.
“This is the reality of sport, and I love all of the challenges it throws my way.”
The two-time world champion added: “I’m really happy to have my first competition coming up. The last time I competed was at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where everything came together and I won gold, so this feels like the start of a new chapter after a challenging year with injury and shoulder surgery.
“This competition is about finding my rhythm again, testing the new pommel horse routine, and then using the World Cup series to keep building momentum. It’s about getting back into competition mode and continuing to improve with each outing.”
