Rhys McClenaghan wins pommel horse gold for Ireland at European Championships

It's the third time that the Down native has won the European title. 

Rhys McClenaghan of Ireland with his gold medal after winning the pommel horse final at the 2024 Men's Artistic Gymnastics European Championships at Fiera di Rimini in Rimini, Italy. Photo by Filippo Tomasi/Sportsfile

Rhys McClenaghan won pommel horse gold for Ireland, and retained his continental title, with victory at the European Gymnastics Championships in Rimini, Italy on Friday evening.

In a stylish and emphatic performance, the Newtownards gymnast scored 15.300 as he finished ahead of Loran de Munck of the Netherlands in second (14.933) and Cypriot Marios Georgiou (14.800) - the all-around champion - in third.

It is the third time that the Down native has claimed the European crown.

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, 2024

In a final which saw several competitors fall or slip from the apparatus - including Ukraine's Oleg Verniaiev who had qualified first - McClenaghan barely put a hand wrong. His routine, which had an difficulty of 6.500, was scored 8.800 for execution. Due to injury, double Olympic gold medalist, Max Whitlock, did not compete at the championships. 

"Very proud moment, triple European Champion!" said McClenaghan's coach Luke Carson. 

"The goal was to come here and showcase Olympic level gymnastics, that was certainly achieved. Now we recoup, re-energise and work towards final improvements for the Olympic Games."

The 24-year-old McClenaghan, a double world champion in the pommel horse, will go to this summer's Olympic Games in Paris as one of Ireland's main medal hopes.

Rhys McClenaghan in action during the pommel horse final. Photo by Filippo Tomasi/Sportsfile

He first won the European title six years ago in Glasgow and again 12 months ago in Antalya. Last year, he also retained his World Championship title.

McClenaghan has improved with every performance this year. He failed to reach the final at the World Cup in Baku last month but earlier this month won bronze in Doha, where he scored 15.233.

Ireland's Dominick Cunningham will go in the vault final on Saturday. There will be live coverage on the RTÉ Player.

Gymnastics Medal alert 🥇

Huge Congratulations to our
2024 European Pommel Horse Champion!!

Rhys McClenaghan defends his title! ☘️🇮🇪

- 15.300#Rimini2024 #TeamIreland #medalalert #sportstartshere #gymnasticsireland pic.twitter.com/hIq8F0s9nu

— Gymnastics Ireland (@GymnasticsIre) April 26, 2024