RHYS McClenaghan had to settle for a silver medal on the pommel horse as his rival Max Whitlock took home gold for Great Britain at the Apparatus World Cup in Paris last weekend.
It was the first time in over two years the coveted pair had competed against one another, with Olympic champion Whitlock – who took time out of gymnastics after winning gold in Tokyo in 2021 – scoring 15.450 in the final to beat the reigning world champion’s effort of 15.100. McClenaghan’s Irish team-mate Adam Steele was fifth with a score of 13.900.
Held at the Bercy Arena, the same venue will be host to next summer’s Olympic gymnastics competitions.
Newtownards man McClenaghan is now gearing up to add to the world crown he won in Liverpool a year ago, when he travels to the World Championships in Antwerp which get underway in less than a fortnight’s time.
The 24 year-old, who earlier this year made his hometown his permanent new training base, became Ireland’s first world champion in the sport last November.
