Rhys McClenaghan has done it all.
A European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic champion on the pommel horse, he is undoubtedly one of the sport’s greatest athletes, but we have been warned that ‘Rhys 2.0’ is expected in Glasgow.
Northern Ireland’s golden boy of gymnastics, who won Ireland’s first Olympic medal in Paris two years ago with his gold in Paris, was forced to sit out last year with a shoulder injury but is ready to bring a new program to Glasgow.
“The Commonwealth Games are a good chance to showcase our work. At the Olympics you want to see the finished product,” he said.
“It will still be work, but hopefully it will be the best in the world.
“Part of me wants to be like young Rees, but the reality is that I’m doing a completely new program and the rule changes have pushed me in that direction – it’s Rees 2.0.”
McClenaghan won gold eight years ago, beating England’s Max Whitlock, who had to withdraw from the Games due to injury, and then won silver in Birmingham four years ago.
He was the first gymnast to complete a Grand Slam and so arrived at these Games as one of the wise leaders of the NI team, despite being only 26 years old.
This is a scary prospect for other players. Even more frightening is the fact that it is being rebooted for version 2.0.
Men’s pommel horse final: Arena on Monday, July 27.