2nd Olympic Final for Rhys McClenaghan
27th July 2024, 22:25p.m. | International
27th July 2024, Bercy Arena, Paris: Team Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan has qualified in 1st place to the pommel-horse final in stunning style with a score of 15.200 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Rhys is the first ever Irish gymnast to qualify to 2 finals at 2 consecutive Olympic Games.
Back-to-back World Champion McClenaghan was the first Irish gymnast to qualify for an Olympic Final at the Tokyo games in 2022.
Reflecting on his performance McClenaghan said: It could be better but it was solid. That was the word Luke was using when I came off. It was calm."
"That’s what you want to be like in that reappearance at the Olympic Games, and that’s what it did feel like, but of course, I want to be pushing more and more to that perfection that isn’t attainable but we’ll try. I can upgrade and I plan to upgrade. Hopefully we’ll be seeing that score bumped up even further. It felt so familiar out there, that pressure I have on my shoulders, because I do it every day in training."
National Performance Coach Luke Carson added: “The calmest part of the day was when Rhys started his routine. The data is clear he is ready to rock!”
Performance & Technical Director Sally Johnson said: “An amazing atmosphere here for Rhys to come out and do what he needed to do to show his incredible routine. Rhys and Luke have shown such professionalism in their preparation, a flawless approach has made a great start to his 2nd Olympics.”
Commenting on the performance CEO of Gymnastics Ireland Mr. Ciaran Gallagher said:
“Superb… just superb! Rhys qualifies for his 2nd Olympic final in 1st place in front of a packed out crowd. Great to have the Taoiseach and Minister Martin in the Bercy Arena to see Rhys and Luke demonstrate a masterclass in preparation for an Olympic competition. Congratulations to Rhys, Luke, our Performance Director Sally Johnson and Head of Performance Services from SI Institute Julianne Ryan. Huge thanks to Sport Ireland & the OFI for the continued support of our sport. Roll on finals!”
The Pommel-Horse Final will take place this coming Saturday 3rd August at 16.16 Irish time.
Full list of results can be found in the official website here...
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