Rhys McClenaghan

GYMNASTICS

Gender

Male

Discipline

Pommel Horse

Date Of Birth

July 21, 1999

Hometown

Newtownards, Co Down

BIOGRAPHY

Rhys gave notice of his talent when he won European Junior silver in 2016 at his speciality – pommel horse – which was also Irish gymnastics’ first ever European medal. In 2018 he was European (senior) and Commonwealth champion in pommel, beating England’s reigning Olympic champion Max Whitlock in both. He tied with Whitlock in the latter but won due to a higher execution score. He did not make the final at the 2018 World Championships and had surgery soon afterwards (November) on a cyst in his shoulder. In 2019 he won bronze at the World Championships in Stuttgart, another first for Ireland and won FIG’s overall World Cup series for pommel. In April 2021, with an upgraded routine, he finished fifth at the Europeans in Switzerland. In a particularly dramatic pommel event five of the eight finalists (including Rhys) fell in what, due to Covid, was their first major championships in 18 months. Rhys competed for Rathgael Gymnastics Club in Bangor before he and his coach moved to Dublin in late 2018 where he trains at the National Gymnastics Training Centre in Abbotstown.

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GYMNASTICS NEWS

European Youth Olympic Festival: Tuesday Results

Cyclist Conor Murphy stormed home with the first medal of the games for Team Ireland at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Maribor today, on a day of high winds and rain that interrupted the sports schedule across the board. The Clogher rider finished second in the Boy’s Time Trial, securing silver. All sports …

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Performance Round Up – Team Ireland

  April was a month to remember for Irish athletes and Team Ireland fans. A new European Champion, National Records, athletes writing themselves into the history books. The level of performance has risen and Irish athletes are now setting times that are World leading. Take a look at some of the action and results below. …

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Gymnastics – McClenaghan qualifies for European Championships Pommel Final

Rhys McClenaghan qualified in 1st position to the Pommel Final of the 2023 European Championships in Artistic Gymnastics with a score of 14.966. Rhys McClenaghan competed alongside teammates Adam Steele, Dominick Cunningham, Eamon Montgomery & Niall Hooton. In the All Around competition Adam Steele finished in 39th position with a score of 76.933, Dominick Cunningham …

Gymnastics – McClenaghan qualifies for European Championships Pommel Final Read More »

European Gymnastics Championships – Team Announcement & How To Watch

Gymnastics Ireland is happy to announce the selected Men’s and Women’s Artistic team to compete at the 2023 European Championships in Antalya, Turkey from the 11th – 16th April as follows: Men’s Artistic Gymnasts Women’s Artistic Gymnasts Coaches The 2023 European Championships kick off on Tuesday 11th April in Antalya, Turkey. Read on to find …

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Rhys McClenaghan – On top of the world

Gymnastics Ireland star Rhys McClenaghan has become the first Irish World Champion in the sport of Gymnastics! Rhys hit a stellar 15.300 on pommel horse in Liverpool today at the 2022 World Gymnastics Championships in front of a packed out arena and broadcast live to a huge global TV audience. At the same time in …

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Rhys McClenaghan Qualifies for Pommel Horse Final at World Gymnastics Championships

Team Ireland’s McClenaghan has qualified for the pommel horse final in first place after hitting a smashing score of 15.233 at the 2022 World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool. Teammates Dominick Cunningham, Eamon Montgomery and Ewan McAteer concluded their all-around and apparatus qualifiers today with Cunningham’s best score of 13.800 on Floor ranking 38th in All-Around. …

Rhys McClenaghan Qualifies for Pommel Horse Final at World Gymnastics Championships Read More »

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