Heartbreak for Rhys McClenaghan in Olympic final: 'I’ll come back a way better gymnast, a way better man'

McClenaghan lost his balance and fell off the pommel, ending his medal chance.

1 August 2021; Rhys McClenaghan of Ireland reacts during the men's pommel horse final at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Never had the Olympic arena felt quite so cruel, and for Rhys McClenaghan the bruises will likely take some time to heal. The 22-year-old Newtownards man endured a crushing disappointment during his bid to win Ireland its first ever Olympic medal in gymnastics today, finishing seventh of eight competitors in the men’s pommel horse final in Tokyo.

McClenaghan went into the final as a leading contender, having breezed through qualification eight days ago with a score of 15.266, but his performance came undone early in his routine, McClenaghan losing his balance and falling off the pommel, thereby ending his medal chance.