Rhys McClenaghan
Gymnastics
BIOGRAPHY
Rhys McClenaghan became Ireland’s first gymnastic medalist at the Olympic Games when he won the gold medal in the final of the Men’s Pommel at Paris 2024.
He started gymnastics aged six with Rathgael GC with his breakthrough coming in 2018 when he won Commonwealth and European gold on the pommel horse, beating the reigning Olympic champion Matt Whitlock on both occasions.
In 2019 while still in his teens, he became the first Irish gymnast to win a medal at World Championships (bronze).
In 2021 he became the first Irish gymnast to make an Olympic final. He was joint second highest qualifier (15.266) in pommel but a fall proved costly in the final where he finished seventh on a score of 13:100.
In 2022 he won silver at the Commonwealth Games which he followed with back-to-back World titles (Liverpool, Nov ’22 & Antwerp Oct ’23) and back-to-back European titles (Antalya April 2o23 & Rimini April 2o24), bringing his tally of major international medals to eight (six gold, one silver and two bronze).
GYMASTICS NEWS
TEAM IRELAND SELECTS THIRTY-FIVE ATHLETES ACROSS EIGHT SPORTS TO COMPETE AT THE EYOF IN SKOPJE
The Olympic Federation of Ireland has today named thirty-five athletes who will compete across eight sports in the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) taking place later this month. The EYOF is the largest European multi-sport event for young athletes aged 14-17, typically held every two years. This year it takes place in Skopje, North [...]
Team Ireland EYOF Medallists 1991 – 2024
In the 24 years of Team Ireland competing at the European Youth Olympic Festival – Ireland has had significant success. There have been 72 medals won by Irish athletes in that time, and the most successful Games for Team Ireland was in Tibilisi in 2015, with a total of ten medals being spread across athletics [...]
Olympic Champion Rhys McClenaghan Inspires Students on Return to His Old School
Olympic Champion and Dare to Believe ambassador Rhys McClenaghan revisits his school Olympic Champion on the pommel horse (gymnastics), Rhys McClenaghan, returned to his former school this week, bringing with him not only his Olympic gold medal but also an inspiring message of resilience and perseverance. As an ambassador for the Dare to Believe Olympic [...]
School Honours McClenaghan and McKibbon with Commemorative Olympic Plaques
Olympians Rhys McClenaghan and Peter McKibbon have been honoured by their former secondary school with commemorative plaques. McClenaghan, who won gold in the men’s Pommel Horse at Paris 2024, and McKibbon, a member of Ireland’s men’s hockey team in Paris, both attended Regent House School in Newtownards as teenagers. It has recognised their Olympic achievements [...]
Nominations For RTE Sportsperson of the Year
Next Sunday evening, December 15th at 9:30 pm, the RTÉ Sport Awards 2024 will air live on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player. Hosted by Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney, and Jacqui Hurley from Studio 4 in RTÉ, the event will celebrate Irish sporting excellence in front of an audience filled with the nation’s top athletes. [...]
Day 8 – Team Ireland Paris 2024
Team Ireland’s Gymnastics superstar Rhys McClenaghan has won an Olympic gold medal in the Pommel Horse final this evening, with a magnificent score of 15.533, becoming the first Irish gymnast to ever win an Olympic medal. Cyclist Ben Healy secured Ireland’s best ever result in an Olympic road race with a brilliant 10th place finish this afternoon. Team [...]