Whitlock had confirmed before the Olympics that Paris would be his final Games, having reversed his decision to retire after Tokyo. The 31-year-old was bidding to win a third consecutive gold on the apparatus he had dominated since Rio 2016, to add to his bronze won at London 2012.
But McClenaghan, the two-time world champion from Northern Ireland, won a sensational gold, with Kazakhstan’s Nariman Kurbanov taking silver and America’s Stephen Nedoroscik – aka “Pommel Horse Guy” – knocking Whitlock off the podium to win bronze.
Whitlock struggled to put the disappointment of finishing fourth at his final Olympics into words as he reflected on his career. He retires as Britain’s greatest-ever male gymnast, having also won gold on the floor at Rio and a historic all-around team bronze with Team GB at London 2012 when he was 19.
“It’s so raw, it’s tricky,” he said. “It was my final one and I didn’t want it to finish that way. Of course I would have liked to finish the chapter a bit better but it wasn’t to be. It wasn’t my day today. It was a very strong pommel final with amazing routines from everybody. But that’s me done in the sport, that’s my last routine.
“I think I will need more time – I’ve never reflected on my career before. I’m proud to say I’ve done gymnastics at this level for so long. When you take it back to London 2012 as a 19-year-old, I dreamt of winning an Olympic medal and I didn’t know how possible it was. To think I’m standing here with six, I’m very happy.”
Esta historia es de la edición August 04, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 04, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Can a single election put a stop to Europe's far right?
Voters in the German state of Brandenburg go to the polls this weekend, in the last of a trio of regional elections in the former East Germany that are seen as a gauge of the political climate - not just in these states, not just in Germany, but across Europe.
Things are looking ominous for Starmer's £170k adviser
Sue Gray, the prime minister's chief of staff, is facing a sullen revolt from the political advisers she is supposed to lead.
Dubois: I need to take AJ back to that dark place
Daniel Dubois is ‘ready to destroy’, hears Alex Pattle, when he defends his IBF title against Anthony Joshua at Wembley
Bath capable of pulling the plug on Saints title defence
Eight or nine clubs could contend for the Premiership playoffs, Harry Latham-Coyle predicts in his club-by-club guide
Chelsea's autographs ban a sign of the times for WSL
The Women's Super League enters a new era as the holders host Aston Villa in tonight's opener, writes Jamie Braidwood
Raya penalty save rescues Arsenal in forgettable draw
A double save reflects a double-edged display. It could have been worse for Arsenal, it never really looked like getting much better.
Driving down electricity prices is not all good news
Europe has seen a record number of hours this year where electricity prices dropped below zero – a sign of progress in renewable energy generation but also a growing challenge that has lessons for other countries.
Why borrowers must wait for help on interest rates
Bank of England will pencil in a November cut but do not hold out for a further reduction this year, warns James Moore
Zelensky's right-hand man fights Russian chess moves
Adviser wants to block Moscow’s return to international fold
Israeli arrested over 'plot to assassinate Netanyahu'
An Israeli man has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a plot to assassinate prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu or other senior officials after being recruited by Iran, Israel's internal security service has said.