Rhys McClenaghan has won an Olympic gold medal in the Pommel Horse final, with a magnificent score of 15.533.
The Co. Down gymnast has won Team Ireland’s sixth medal at these Paris Olympic Games. Ireland’s third gold medal of these Paris Olympic Games and first ever gymnastics medal.
In front of a packed Bercy Arena, McClenaghan executed a flawless routine; in what was considered the highest quality Pommel final in living memory.
Kazakhstan’s Nariman Kurbanov, threw down the gauntlet with a huge score. Fourth competitor, McClenaghan performed the routine of a lifetime, scoring 15:333.
That performance put McClenaghan into the lead. Next up was America’s 2021 world champion Stephen Nedoroscik. Regarded as a big threat, scoring 15:300, leaving the Newtownards star in the lead with three to go.
None of the remaining three men scored over 15, which meant that the vaunted title of ‘Olympic Champion’ went to McClenaghan to see him realise his long held dream.
First ever Gymnastic medal for Ireland
“No, I didn’t know that I’d won as soon as I landed” explained McClenaghan. “But I knew that I had done my job. I’d done the most difficult routine I could do on this day and that’s where the tears and the emotions came from really.
"This was the best pommel horse final that has ever happened in my eyes, ever, in the history of men’s gymnastics. To be a part of that is incredible and any one of those eight finalists could have taken gold today.”
“I guess relief is always one when you land” explained McClenaghan of his emotions. “Proud of myself as well for doing it under that pressure”.
McClenaghan, has been coached to his success throughout by Luke Carson, has had a spectacular career littered with a series of ground breaking firsts.
McClenaghan was the first Irish gymnast to win a medal at a world championships (2019 bronze), first to make Olympic final (Tokyo 2020).
First to win world (2022) and European (2023) championship titles, and then to retain them (2023 Worlds, 2024 Europeans).
It is fitting he will forever go down in history as the first Irish gymnast ever to win an Olympic medal.
