The county Down gymnast booked his place in next year's Olympic Games after creating history over the weekend
Rhys McClenaghan became Ireland's first-ever Gymnastics World Championships medal-winner on Saturday after taking bronze in the pommel horse final.
First EVER World Final for Ireland ✅ Olympic Qualification ✅ Ireland’s first EVER World medal ✅ It’s been good Stuttgart, thank you everybody for the amazing support. #PrinceOfPommel #BeUndeniable pic.twitter.com/t5EIvRNZ8W
— Rhys Mcclenaghan (@McClenaghanRhys) October 14, 2019
The 20-year-old's breathtaking routine narrowly missed out on top spot by a mere 0.1 of a point.
Speaking on Today FM's Dermot and Dave, Rhys describes what the moment was like;
I WAS STANDING ON THAT PODIUM THINKING 'I'VE QUALIFIED TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES, I'VE MADE HISTORY BY BRINGING HOME THIS MEDAL AND THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEELING
The lads chat about McClenaghan's journey from a 6-year-old in Newtownards with too much energy to competing at the highest level on the world stage.
It didn't come without obstacles and sacrifices though, but the youngster's determination shone through.
He bounced back after shoulder surgery in November and improvised when he lost his coach due to unfortunate circumstances, "I trained in my back garden for a couple of days. My dad took out this old pommel horse that he had made when I was maybe 8 or 9".
Here he is in training:
His eyes are now firmly set on Tokyo 2020 and with the grit this kid has, we have no doubt he's going all the way to the top;
I'm just so excited for the Olympics now. This bronze medal has only given me the hunger for that gold and it's gonna show in my training coz I'm gonna be working my ass off
His medal is lit by the way. Literally. It actually has a charging port to make it light up.
Check out the chat in full by pressing the play button on screen.
