RHYS MCCLENAGHAN HAS successfully defended his Pommel Horse title at the European Gymnastics Championships in Rimini, Italy.
McClenaghan again won the gold medal after a superb, clean routine which scored 15.300.
Rhys is the word!Rhys McClenaghan has leapt into the Gold medal position at the European Pommel Horse final. The 24-year-old retains his European crown. pic.twitter.com/4GJvY59XBR
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 26, 2024The back-to-back world champion triumphed in Europe in 2018, 2023 — and now 2024.
Performing second last in this evening’s final, McClenaghan was seamless throughout a dominant performance, which may be his final piece of competitive action ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The 24-year-old had qualified in second with a score of 15.133.
— Gymnastics Ireland (@GymnasticsIre) April 26, 2024Loran De Munck of the Netherlands (14.933) claimed the silver medal, while Georgia’s Marios Georgiou (14.800) finished third.
It was a dramatic final in Rimini with three falls and other twists and turns, but McClenaghan typically kept his cool to triumph once more.
“I’m feeling good,” McClenaghan said afterwards. “It was a good performance we put in today.
“We still need to polish up on some of the mistakes in that routine. Whether you could see it or not, there were some minute details that the judges picked up on. I can’t wait to even go back into the warm-up hall now, think about it, practice it and improve even more on that score.”
“I really think I deal with the pressure well because I practice it every day in training,” he added.
“Every day in training practicing a routine is a competition for me. I put myself under immense pressure every day, so when it comes to a competition like this when it is the real thing, the medal gong around your neck, I’m used to it. I’m used to performing a routine under that pressure.
“I’m glad that I’m dedicated enough to this craft enough to know to pressurise myself under controlled circumstances now.”
McClenaghan with Loran de Munck (left) and Marios Georgiou on the podium. Filippo Tomasi / SPORTSFILE Filippo Tomasi / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE
“Very proud moment, triple European Champion,” his coach, Luke Carson, said in a statement from Gymnastics Ireland.
“The goal was to come here and showcase Olympic level gymnastics, that was certainly achieved. Now we recoup, reenergise and work towards final improvements for Olympic Games.”
Gymnastics Ireland Performance and Technical Manager Director, Sally Johnson, and CEO, Ciaran Gallagher, also shared well wishes, congratulations and thanks.
James Hickey contests the Junior Pommel Horse final tomorrow morning, before Dominick Cunningham goes into the Senior Vault decider.
Emma Slevin, Blathnaid Higgins, Halle Hilton, Lily Russell and Mimi Moloney will all participate at the women’s event next week.
