Max Whitlock claims his second Commonwealth gold
HE MAY not have the same public profile as Louis Smith and he is never invited to the best swanky celebrity parties, but Max Whitlock proved yesterday that when it comes to gymnastics, he is the best in the Commonwealth.
This feels absolutely amazing
Smith may dominate the headlines when it comes to gymnastics but it is Whitlock who has developed into the more accomplished performer.
Yesterday the 21-year-old gave a world-class display in the artistic competitions at the Hydro to earn the accolade of men's all-round champion.
After every athlete had done their routine on six different apparatus (floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and the high bar), Whitlock's overall score of 90.631 was 2.333 marks better than the popular silver medallist Dan Keatings, winner of Scotland's first medal in this competition.
"This feels absolutely amazing," said Whitlock. "I've had goose-bumps all over my body the whole competition.
"Since 2012, the all-round has been a massive target for me and to pull it off and it to all come together is great."
Whitlock, Keatings and Smith all now turn their attentions to an almighty battle in the pommel horse today.
Keatings said: "It's amazing, especially after how much I've been plagued with injury.
"I haven't done a major all-round international for over two and a half years now, and it's great to come back here, do an all-round and actually get a medal in front of a home crowd."
Nile Wilson, an 18-year-old from Leeds, was third, winning a second medal in his first major competition as a senior gymnast.