‘Relief’ for history-chasing Whitlock at Olympics

Max Whitlock breathed a huge sigh of relief as he reached the pommel horse final to have a chance of Olympic history after his “most emotional” competition.

The 31-year-old Briton, who is seeking to become the first gymnast to win medals on the same apparatus at four successive Games, almost retired after the Tokyo Olympics three years ago before deciding he was not done with his sport yet.

Qualifying third for the eight-man final, the defending champion said he had “never felt emotions like that” and was particularly thrilled to perform well in front of his five-year-old daughter Willow, who was “screaming like crazy” at Bercy Arena.

“I was mega pleased,” Whitlock, who also took gold at Rio 2016 and bronze at London 2012, told reporters.

“Honestly, the relief is a crazy, crazy feeling. I think I’ve never felt emotions like that in a competition. Everyone knows how much this means to me.

“Nerves of course were high – we’ll never get away from nerves, that pressure, that expectancy – but I think the emotional side of it, kind of knowing what it means, that was very, very different this time.”

Whitlock said he would consider adding upgrades to his routine in next Saturday’s pommel horse final, where his biggest challengers are set to be Ireland’s world champion Rhys McClenaghan and American Stephen Nedoroscik, who both scored 15.200, just ahead of Whitlock’s 15.166.

Whitlock’s was one of a number of solid performances across the board as Great Britain qualified in third for Monday’s team final, where they will be chasing just a second medal in the event after bronze in 2012.

Jake Jarman and Joe Fraser will contest Wednesday’s all-around final, while Jarman was top qualifier for the floor final, with Luke Whitehouse also going through.

Jarman also made the vault final, along with 20-year-old Harry Hepworth, who is into the rings final too.

Great Britain’s women, who won a surprise team bronze in Tokyo, start their campaign on Sunday (qualifying from 08:30 BST), while American Simone Biles will also make her hotly anticipated Olympic return (10:40 BST).