Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games - Superb Max Whitlock takes sixth Olympic medal with gold in pommel horsefinal

ByEurosport

Updated 01/08/2021 at 14:13 GMT

The man from Hemel Hempstead put in a flawless performance to take top spot in the pommel horse final which means he now has six Olympic medals. The final score of 15.583 was higher than anything seen during the qualifying period and no-one could match it. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+.

A brilliant performance from Max Whitlock on Sunday saw him take gold in the men's pommel final, his sixth Olympic medal.

Whitlock's routine was flawless, scoring 15.583 (7.0D) which was higher than any of the scores in the qualification round.

There was a nervous wait as Lee Chih Kai put in another stunning performance but his 15.4 left him in the silver medal position.

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The other major threat to Whitlock was world number three Rhys McClenaghan but he stumbled with a stubbed finger and couldn't challenge the leader.

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'Yes!' - Whitlock's 'beautiful' routine on pommel horse earns GB star gold

Whitlock becomes the most successful male gymnast ever on pommel horse after defending his Olympic title.

The 28-year-old also has three World Championship golds on the apparatus.

It is his sixth Olympic medal, having also taken gold on the floor and pommel in Rio de Janeiro five years ago as well as bronze in all-around. At London 2012 he claimed two bronzes: in the pommel horse and the team discipline.

It was a sensational routine from Whitlock, handling the pressure of being the first competitor on the pommel and producing a performance those that followed could not match.

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Kai, of Chinese Taipei, came nearest with a fine routine of his own, with Whitlock's anxious eyes betraying his worries that Kai might have done enough.

However it was a lower tariff routine, at 6.700 as opposed to Whitlock's difficulty score of 7.000, so despite receiving a lower execution score, the Briton defended his crown.

Kazuma Kaya (14.900) secured a home bronze medal for Japan, edging out David Belyavskiy of ROC (14.833).

It was a cruel final for McClenaghan, having to wait his turn after a brilliant showing in qualifying.

The Irishman fell off the pommel early in his routine and could not reset to challenge after a one-point penalty.

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Whitlock is the 21st Team GB athlete to win three or more Olympic gold medals.

His success is Great Britain's tenth gold of Tokyo 2020.

He is the first man in more than 30 years to defend an Olympic pommel horse title.

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