Image source, InphoImage caption, McClenaghan finished third in qualifying for Monday's final
ByLauren McCannBBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow- Published8 minutes ago
If Friday's qualifying session was only the start of Rhys McClenaghan "2.0" with his new pommel horse routine that he said would be "a work in progress" at the Commonwealth Games, everyone is in for a treat with what will follow in this rebuild.
Competing on a big stage for the first time in earnest since he peaked when completing the gymnastics 'Grand Slam' by winning Olympic gold in Paris two years ago, McClenaghan showed the big crowd in the Glasgow International Arena what they had been missing during his injury-enforced absence that spanned the entirety of 2025.
The 27-year-old delivered a big score of 14.500 for his routine and celebrated his almost perfect execution (demonstrated by his 9.000 score) with a little dance after stepping off the pommel horse.
McClenaghan exuded confidence on his approach to the apparatus, during his routine and after, when he soaked up the adulation of the crowd that was populated by a strong Northern Ireland contingent.
That is to be expected from an athlete that has won it all in his sport, but despite his perceived assured exterior, McClenaghan was feeling anxious at making his return with all eyes on him and with considerable more pressure than in Birmingham four years ago given his various accolades he has collected since.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but I'm nervous for every competition, this one held a little bit more weight," he told BBC Sport NI.
"We're at an arena on qualification day and it's packed out, audience cheering when your name is announced and it's a different feeling than other gymnastics competitions.
"Normally qualifications are empty, so it's really nice to be a part of that and it felt like a finals day here and that's why there are a few more smiles and happy faces with how the pommel routine went."
McClenaghan qualifiers for pommel horse final
- Published3 hours ago
'I should put out a better routine on Monday'
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, McClenaghan will aim to win a third Commonwealth Games medal on Monday
McClenaghan's score far surpassed the 13.466 and 13.900 that he registered in the two World Cup competitions in Azerbaijan and Antalya as he made his comeback earlier this year.
It is still well short of his personal best achieved at the Olympics final of 15.533, but his polished routine in Glasgow is a step in the right direction and sees him comfortably into Monday's final in third behind Scotland's Reuben Ward and Canada's Jordan Carroll, who both registered 14.550, having had harder difficulty but faring worse on execution than McClenaghan.
Always striving for perfection, the Newtownards man still feels there are elements of his routine that need tweaked, even if they will be minimal adjustments rather than major alterations.
With his great rival Max Whitlock not competing in Glasgow due to injury, McClenaghan now has a real chance to do what he set out to in these games, sandwich the 2022 silver with another gold after triumphing at his first Games in 2018.
"There's more room for improvement," he added.
"I was down on my difficulty score and heat of the moment decisions, I was a bit off balance and too much tension in my arms, so I get the opportunity now to train for Monday's final where I should be a bit more sharp and agile and put out a better routine than I did today."
The only disappointment for McClenaghan on what proved to be a fruitful afternoon, was his failure to reach the floor final.
Competing for the first time since the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, a stumble as he aimed to land a final triple somersault cost him as he scored 12.350.
It was a rare blemish but he will get back on the (pommel) horse quite literally in Monday's final, which will no doubt help him shelve that disappointment with his eyes on another big prize and the chance to further enhance his legacy.
"I was just happy to be here and compete on floor but at the same time I was here to win medals too, it was a real shame, I was going too much for that stuck landing on the dismount and that had me under rotating.
"The rest of the routine was great and it was nice to get the opportunity to perform it out here."
