McClenaghan crowned European Champion for second time!

15th April 2023, 15:35p.m. | International

Saturday 15th April, Antalya, Turkey; Current World Champion gymnast Rhys McClenaghan was crowned the 2023 European Champion on pommel horse today scoring 14.666 after a great routine at the European Championships apparatus finals in Turkey. This is his second European Pommel title having formerly been crowned in 2018.

Talking about his experience Rhys McClenaghan commented:

“I couldn’t be more proud to bring home another European Title for Ireland and to my collection. It was an anxious wait going up first and not performing my best routine but it’s definitely putting up a score that can take the title and I’m glad to be walking away from another European Championships as the European Pommel Horse Champion.”

Gymnastics Ireland National Men's Coach, Luke Carson added:

"I am exceptionally happy that Rhys completed another gold winning routine! It is great preparation for Olympic Qualification. I am very proud of Rhys today."

Gymnastics Ireland Performance and Technical Manager, Sally Johnson said:

“A fantastic result for Rhys with his second European Gold medal just 6 months after taking the World Title, congratulations to him & Luke on all the preparation and dedication to the sport!

We would like to thank Sport Ireland for the continued support and the Sport Ireland Institute staff for providing such great support for all our gymnasts.

It’s been an exciting week for both our Women’s and Men’s teams. This event has seen our best performance to date from the women’s team and we are hopeful for both Emma Slevin and Halle Hilton who should qualify to the World Championships later this year with Adam Steele also joining them. The World Championships is also the Olympic qualification route for All Around gymnasts.

Well done to all gymnasts coaches and judges on all the great work and we look forward to a fun summer of training…”

Gymnastics Ireland CEO Ciaran Gallagher added:

“European Champion for the 2nd time - Rhys has done it again! What an amazing thing to be able to say - current World & now European Champion at the same time! It was also an honour to be asked by European Gymnastics to present the gold medal to Rhys. This result of course is shared by our National Coach Luke Carson who works tirelessly with Rhys to make results like this possible. Thank you also to our Performance & Technical Manager Sally Johnson and Sports Ireland Institute team led by Julieanne Ryan plus our judges out here in Antalya! Great day for Gymnastics Ireland!”

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