Rhys McClenaghan has set a milestone by becoming the first-ever Olympic medal recipient in gymnastics from Ireland. The stage for this notable achievement was Paris’s Bercy Arena, where McClenaghan claimed a golden victory.
This remarkable achievement came to life in his splendid performance on the pommel horse, combining his calm demeanour and fierce determination. These virtues led him to score 15.533, with an improved execution score of 8.933 and difficulty score of 6.600. This effort placed him first amongst the eight finalists.
Following his routine, McClenaghan triumphantly raised his arms and gave an audible sigh of relief, taking a moment to absorb his accomplishment on one of the most challenging apparatuses in men’s gymnastics. His flawless routine complimented his previous accolades, including two consecutive world championships.
Rhys McClenaghan expresses the surreal nature of his achievement by saying, “It feels like a dream, it’s a dream well-earned and I just can’t believe it’s happened”. The gymnast took this opportunity to inspire viewers at home, advising them to find a passion, pursue it and revel in the journey. He added, “Even if I fell off the pommel horse today, I would still love every bit of my journey”. His words resonated even more potently as he didn’t fall off and ended up achieving an Olympic gold.
Shortly after his impressive routine, he said he wasn’t really concerned with receiving a medal. He was content with his score, just glad he had carried out his duties successfully, which he credited as the source of his primary emotions. He stated that the toughest pommel horse finals of all time was expected and that emerging victorious in such circumstances was extraordinarily rewarding.
The event began with an impressive showing from 26-year-old Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakhstan. His transcendent routine won him an early score of 15.434, setting the bar high for the other competitors and earning him a silver medal.
He was followed by Max Whitlock, a 31-year-old British gymnast who stunned everyone with a mid-routine handstand. His score of 15.000 seemed to fall slightly short of expectations, and he ended up finishing in fourth place. Whitlock’s ambition of becoming the first-ever gymnast to claim three consecutive pommel horse Olympic gold medals, following his victories in Rio and Tokyo, remained unfulfilled.
Stephen Nedoroscik from the US – the reigning world champion – wasn’t far behind. His one-handed twists in the middle of his routine were a big hit with the judges. Nevertheless, his score of 15.300 didn’t surpass that of McClenaghan, leaving him in third place.
However, McClenaghan’s success marked a significant milestone for Ireland, extending their Olympic medal record into a seventh discipline. This triumphant tally includes victories in athletics, boxing, swimming, sailing, rowing, and equestrian.
McClenaghan, now 25-years-old, has been on an upward trajectory ever since he narrowly missed out on medalling in Tokyo three years ago. His exceptional performance in Paris showcased his growing confidence and perfectly executed routine.
Precisely a week after he confidently ranked first in the qualifiers with a score of 15.200, he found himself back in the finals arena.
Kellie Harrington, another Irish athlete in Paris, has secured at least a bronze in lightweight boxing. Her sights will be set on silver or gold during her semi-final match, set to take place late Saturday evening.
Swimmer Daniel Wiffen has bagged a gold medal in the 800m freestyle and is touted as the top contender for the 1,500m final. Mona McSharry earned a bronze in the 100m breaststroke, and Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch secured a bronze in the men’s doubles rowing event. Following this, Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy clinched their second gold in the lightweight double sculls.
The current medal tally matches Ireland’s previous best Olympic record of six medals at the 2012 London games, and the hope is for more on the horizon, with Wiffen’s 1,500m final scheduled as early as Sunday.
Additionally, last week, Rhys McClenaghan, the Irish gymnast celebrated his 25th birthday in the Athletes’ Village, professing his dreams have been realised. However, his hopes of securing a Olympic medal were abruptly dashed following a mishap where he fell onto the horse in his tenth second of performance, placing him seventh. The setback however offered him increased motivation and inspiration, as stated by him, transforming him into “a more dangerous man.”
Reflecting on his career, seven years after his triumphant debut at 18, McClenaghan topped Whitlock in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. His medal haul includes two World Championship golds and one bronze, three European golds, one Commonwealth Games gold and a silver medal.
Preceding the men’s event, Simone Biles won her third gold in these games at the women’s vault final, adding to her medals from the team final and the all-around final. This marked her seventh gold and 10th overall Olympic medal, fortifying her position as the most decorated American gymnast. Biles had previously clinched a gold in vault in the Rio Olympics of 2016.
However, in the history of Ireland’s Olympic gymnastics, McClenaghan holds the distinction as the first medalist, earning him the proverbial bow.