Rhys McClenaghan is already one of the most successful athletes from Northern Ireland.
The 25-year-old is a two-time pommel horse world champion, a three-time European gold medallist and a Commonwealth Games winner.
If he retired today, McClenaghan would be considered one of the all-time greats.
But he stands on the verge of history. If he can win Olympic gold in Paris on Saturday, he will complete the gymnastics Grand Slam.
“There’s one part of me that is like, listen, you’re a two-time world champion, you’re one of the best that has ever done it in this sport on the pommel horse, and it’s almost job done,” explained McClenaghan.
“I’ll have my name in the rankings for years to come, but then there’s another part of me that is like, ‘let’s be the best of all time on pommel horse’.
“This is my sport, this is my apparatus, and let’s cement my name not only amongst the greats, which I am now already, but as the great, and that’s not an easy task to attain, but it’s something that I think is possible.”
Like a number of athletes of his generation, McClenaghan was inspired by what he witnessed at the London 2012 Olympics.
“It was definitely Louis Smith’s performance in London,” he recalls.
“Although he didn’t win gold, he won a second Olympic pommel horse medal, taking silver after joint scores with the Olympic champion [Krisztian Berki], so he was very close.
“I went to London 2012 to watch the opening ceremony, so I got to be in London around the Games, and I saw the giant posters of Louis, sponsors left, right and centre, I saw the amount of pressure that was on that man’s shoulders and to see him presenting to the judges and performing a routine like he always did in training, that for me was so admirable.
“It’s a little moment that I’ll never forget, that inspired me up until this point.”
Within three years, a young McClenaghan was standing on the podium at the British Championships behind Smith and Max Whitlock.
“My whole career is filled with moments like that, moments of surreal, dreamlike fantasies that I’ve had growing up, to be competing against Louis.
“So I’m super grateful that I can be in those positions where I’m ticking off these little bucket list things and making my dreams come true.”
McClenaghan’s record already one of the best
McClenaghan burst on to the international scene by beating Whitlock to take 2018 Commonwealth Games gold on the Gold Coast.
He repeated the trick later that summer by claiming his first European title in Glasgow.
His star rising, he made history by becoming the first gymnast representing Ireland to qualify for an Olympic final in Tokyo, but a slip cost him the chance of a medal as Whitlock retained his title.
Since then, however, the Newtownards gymnast has dominated the pommel horse. He claimed his first world title in 2022 and retained it last year.
He’s also won the past two European Championships. Now as Paris comes into view, McClenaghan is trying to maintain a level-headed approach.
“There’s a lot of thoughts going through my head about the Olympic Games, especially now because we’re so close to it, but I’m honestly just excited.
“I see it from the point of view of myself as a 12-year-old, admiring the opening ceremony, admiring the Louis Smith posters everywhere, and that’s the same thought process as I’m going through now.
“I’m admiring everything, I’m admiring the fact that I’m at my healthiest. I can’t wait to go out there in Paris and see the buzz of it all, and see different athletes from around the world.”
He added: “This is the biggest competition of this year, and I need to treat it as such, like I have done in the last two years.”
Pommel horse final could be greatest ever
Given the quality of competitors, the pommel horse final is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the Olympics.
At least six men could win it, all have routines that have scored 15.000 and above this year, the mark of a world-class gymnast.
“It gives me confidence in training, knowing that I am the best in the world,” said McClenaghan.
“But when it comes to competition, it’s like the canvas is clean, anybody can take it – that’s what is so exciting about gymnastics, or any sport for that matter, and even more so in gymnastics because there’s such fine margins in the sport that anybody can take it that day.
“That’s what makes me a gymnastics fan, makes me want to watch the sport more and more, and I guess on that competition day it’s my job to do my best gymnastics possible, and if it’s good enough, it’s good enough. I’m certainly aiming for that gold medal.”
