One down, two to go. Having retained his pommel horse gold at the Tokyo Olympics, Max Whitlock now has his sights on two more monumental achievements – a fourth Olympic gold and introducing ‘The Whitlock’ to the world. Unfortunately for his opponents, the Briton is already optimistic he can defy the odds in Paris in 2024 having done so in Japan.
The average peak age in gymnastics is thought to be 22 to 23, but at 28 years old last Sunday, Whitlock claimed the third Olympic gold of his illustrious career.
The six-time Games medallist, who is also a three-time world champion and four-time European gold medal winner, is undoubtedly one of Great Britain’s greatest ever athletes and further proved that with a brilliant routine that yielded a score of 15.583.
But immediately after, the Hertfordshire-born gymnast knows what he wants: even more glory. That, he hopes, will come in the French capital in three years’ time, with a trip to Los Angeles in 2028 not completely out of the question either.
And Whitlock, speaking on the set of #OMGB – DFS’s daily social media show from Team GB House in Tokyo, insists that his latest glory gives him the belief he can go again at the next Games.
“I didn’t look at age as a barrier when I was young and trying to make it on the big stage, the senior stage,” Whitlock says to Express Sport.
“I was younger than everybody else but I didn’t see age as a barrier that way round. Yeah it’s kind of trying not to see age as a barrier this time round as I’m one of the oldest ones.
“I’m the oldest by a few years on the team which is crazy but it’s actually a real nice position, it really, really is.
“I get questions from the boys in terms of previous experiences through previous Games and things like that. It’s nice to kind of offer insight and hopefully help them in certain situations which is really, really cool.
“I think definitely it gives me confidence moving forward. Previously I struggled with fatigue and everything with my body. I’ve felt so much better with this build-up.
“I’ve learned so much more and I’m constantly learning. With the next cycle being three years instead of four to 2024, there’s no doubt that that helps me out because of the short cycle.”
One of Whitlock’s biggest goals between now and Paris is ending his quest to get into the Code of Points with a move named after himself.
Zoltan Magyar, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in the pommel horse, is among those in the Code of Points with the Magyar Travel and the Magyar Spindle. His name was heard several times throughout the Tokyo final.
“I already know that there’s a couple of upgrades where I can get a couple of extra tenths and hopefully they’re small skills that I can learn quickly.
“Then there’s a couple of other moves I want to do and try and experiment with. There’s also ‘The Whitlock’ that I’ve spoken so much about over the years.
“I’d really like to spend the next few years trying to get in the Code of Points. If I do it, it’ll be the hardest skill I’ve ever done on a pommel horse. I’d love to do that.
“It’s a long process. I don’t know how long yet, but I do know is I practiced it quite a while ago so I know it’s possible, which is a good thing. It’s a good place to start.
“In terms of actually getting it into a routine is a different story. It might be a process of a very long period of time but it’s always been a dream of mine. I’ve always wanted my name in the book of skills of gymnastics.
“If I can make that possible, I think it’d be really cool. Especially with it being on pommel horse, it’d be a dream. It’s something I’ll try very hard to make a reality.”
Whitlock was away from friends and family for a month in the Japanese capital due to Covid restrictions and returned home on Tuesday (August 3).
And he insists he’ll take a well-earned indefinite break before looking ahead to the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, also in Japan, from October 18-24.
Whitlock continues: “I think my mindset after Rio and London was to wait until I was itching to get back in the gym. London I was 19 years old, I was a lot younger and after three weeks I was itching to get back.
“It took a little bit longer in Rio, three months out. I think that’s important and I’ll do the same this time. I’m not sure how long it’ll take.
“A thing for me is not actually putting a timeline on it. That’s really important. If I wait until I get that feeling, that fire in my belly, massive motivation and ‘I want to do this, this and this’ that helps.
“If you go in too early, that just makes you go through the motions. ‘Oh I better go in now.’ I want to be excited to get back in and raring to go.”
Max Whitlock is an ambassador for DFS, the official homeware partner of Team GB
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
