what is McClenaghan eyeing world medal?

Rhys McClenaghan is looking for the perfect finish to a dream year, as the reigning European champion looks to add world gold to his 2018 medal tally.

The Newtonards native became the first Irish gymnast to win a European medal this summer, taking gold in the pommel horse at the European Championships in Glasgow, following on from his Commonwealth gold in Australia earlier in the year.

And now the teenager will be hoping to add a world medal to his double gold at the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2018 in Doha.

McClenaghan shot to national fame in August as he beat some of the world’s best pommel horse gymnasts, finishing clear of the eight-man field in the final including Olympic and world pommel horse champion, Team GB's Max Whitlock.

McClenaghan's sole focus is on the pommel horse in Doha, however, he is planning to compete in all six apparatus' at the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

And as a result, McClenaghan knows that he is only starting out on the very beginning of what augers to be a long and successful career on the pommel horse, and the 19-year-old admits that he is enjoying every minute of it.

"I just enjoy it. When you go out in front of thousands, you have to enjoy it. After my routine, I take it all in and get the crowds going, and I really enjoy those moments.

"It’s a very exciting time. I’m still very young, so even after this world championships, there is so much more to come, Olympic qualification starting next year.

"I’m still maintaining my levels on the other apparatus’ and I want to go into the Olympic qualification doing all six apparatus’.

"My next best event would be the floor exercise. I’ve always just understood my spacial awareness very well doing somersaults with twists, I just always know where I am all the time."

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