Who is Rhys McClenaghan? Everything you need to know about the Olympic gold medalist

Rhys McClenaghan came first in last week’s pommel horse subdivision 3, finishing with a score of 15.200

Northern Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan has won a gold medal in the pommel horse final at the Paris Olympics.

The Co Down man is the first ever Irish gymnast to qualify for two finals at two consecutive Olympic Games, following on from his performance in Tokyo in 2022 – where he was also the first Irish gymnast to qualify for an Olympic final.

He came first in last week’s pommel horse subdivision 3, finishing with a score of 15.200.

Here’s everything you need to know about him.

Personal life 

Rhys McClenaghan before performing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Picture: INPHO/Photosport/John Cowpland

Rhys McClenaghan is 25 years old, having celebrated his birthday just days before the Olympics began on July 21.

He is from Newtownards in Co Down and trained in Rathgael Gymnastics Club in Bangor until his coach was made redundant in 2018.

Following this, McClenaghan was forced to train in his back garden before relocating to Dublin. He received funding and accommodation from Gymnastics Ireland and Sport Ireland to train in their institute in Abbotstown.

His current coach is Luke Carson.

Sporting career 

Rhys McClenaghan during his routine. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

The artistic gymnast competes internationally for both Ireland and Northern Ireland. His first major win was in 2016 when he was still technically a minor at the British Artistic Gymnastics Championships. He won a bronze medal, coming third to Olympians Louis Smith and Max Whitlock.

McClenaghan’s speciality is the pommel horse and he is considered to be one of the best pommel workers of his generation.

In 2018, he won a gold medal on the pommel horse for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. Months later, he also won the European championship.

The following year, the Co Down man was the first Irish gymnast to qualify for a world championships final and to take home a medal, following his bronze medal performance on the pommel horse.

McClenaghan is a double world champion, having won gold on the pommel horse in 2022 and 2023. He is the first Irish artistic gymnast ever to win world championship gold.

Last year, he won a second European title and retained the world title.

Controversy 

Rhys McClenaghan receives his silver medal during the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

Ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, McClenaghan was banned from competing for Northern Ireland by the International Gymnastics Foundation, along with two other gymnasts, Eamon Montgomery and Ewan McAteer.

This was due to the fact that he had previously competed in international competitions for Ireland.

The foundation called on the men to change their nationality from Irish on their licenses. Alternatively, they suggested that the Commonwealth Games Federation remove the relevant gymnastics competitions from the foundation’s calendar.

Then taoiseach Leo Varadkar was among politicians who criticised the decision.

Commonwealth Games NI even accused the foundation of “completely disregarding” the Good Friday Agreement in their decision.

Eventually, McClenaghan, Montgomery and McAteer were given a special dispensation to compete in the games.