Whitlock: 'It feels unbelievable'

Britain's Max Whitlock triumphed in the floor and pommel horse on Sunday, becoming Great Britain's first Olympic gymnastics champion. He was struggling to come to terms with his exploits a day later.

Published : Aug 16, 2016 13:48 IST

Brit Max Whitlock believes his success can help his sport even more in the United Kingdom.
Brit Max Whitlock believes his success can help his sport even more in the United Kingdom.
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Brit Max Whitlock believes his success can help his sport even more in the United Kingdom.

Double Olympic gold medallist Max Whitlock can barely believe his "unbelievable" success in gymnastics at the Rio Games.

The 23-year-old triumphed in the floor and pommel horse on Sunday, becoming Great Britain's first Olympic gymnastics champion. Whitlock, who won two bronze medals at London 2012, was still struggling to come to terms with his exploits a day later.

"It feels unbelievable, it's been a really tough and long journey," he told Omnisport, courtesy of Adidas.

"You train for this for so many years for that one minute to perform, to show what you've been working on, to show all that hard work you've put in and it's paid off massively.

"That bronze medal to start with was a huge target for me and Scott [Hann, coach], and to get all six pieces right on that day was a massive target for me and Scott.

"To be standing here with these two golds is just incredible."

Whitlock has two idols – Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt and Japanese three-time Olympics gymnastics champion Kohei Uchimura.

Now with two gold medals of his own, he believes the success can help his sport even more in the United Kingdom.

"It's done a lot for the sport, making history as well which makes it even more special for me, but for the sport it's done huge things, these people can hopefully be inspired," Whitlock said.

"There are so many kids that will join gymnastics like it was after London 2012, the waiting list for my club back home is just crazy.

"And hopefully this can do the same, the more people we have in the sport the better it is."

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