After more than 20 years of memorable moments and “big failures,” Max Whitlock has announced that he will end his illustrious gymnastics career at this summer's Paris Olympics.
The 31-year-old, who has won three Olympic gold medals and three world titles, said he was no longer afraid of life outside the competitive side of the sport that made him one of the greatest British athletes of his generation. .
And whether it has to do with his quest to build on that impressive feat, or winning a “pick a pair” game with his five-year-old daughter Willow, who will be watching him at the Olympics for the first time in Paris. Regardless, Whitlock's competitive fire continues. It still burns fiercely.
“It's very exciting to be working towards the ultimate goal of a fourth and final Olympic Games, which will hopefully allow us to push the boundaries even further and make this final chapter the best it can be,” Whitlock told PA told the news agency. .
“It feels great to have the opportunity to do it in front of Willow. I'm very happy to have this opportunity.
“I feel like Willow is so proud. She loves touting to people that I'm the Olympic champion and thinks I've won everything. We'll 'pick a pair' together.” My competitive instinct doesn't stop even when I'm doing it.”
Whitlock's nearly 10-year career as world champion, which began in 2015 when he defeated pommel horse rival Lewis Smith in Glasgow to become Britain's first individual world champion, has been capped by periods of conflict and self-doubt. I've been hiding it.
“I've failed more times than most people realize,” Whitlock claimed. He most recently missed out on a medal at last year's world championships in Antwerp after falling off the equipment during his final routine.
“I have participated in so many competitions and European Championships, but I could not achieve what I wanted there.
“But what it does is it sharpens you up a lot and makes you focus on getting back in the gym and solving problems. Sometimes those mistakes are the things that get you in the mindset to get where you want to be. It is.”
Whitlock won two Olympic gold medals on floor and pommel horse in less than two hours on an unforgettable Sunday afternoon in Rio, and defended his world title in Montreal and Stuttgart in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
But his happiest memory is his crucial first step onto the world stage at the 2012 London Games, where he was part of the men's team that won a historic bronze medal and also won individual bronze on the pommel horse. , paved the way for future greatness.
“London was a huge thing for me. Winning the bronze medal despite being completely doubted gave me the motivation and inspiration to go on from there and compete anywhere,” Whitlock said. looked back.
“I was nearing my prime and felt invincible. The four years after London were great because it was a test to see how far I could go. I felt like I was floating. If London If I hadn't come, my career could have been completely different.”
Whitlock's third Olympic gold medal in a near-empty Tokyo Ariake Arena preceded an 18-month period of soul-searching during which he realized his competitive career was coming to an end. I was secretly struggling with this concept.
But nearly three years later, with a growing family, a thriving business and the development of a bespoke gymnastics course for children, Whitlock has realized that life without the constant demands to improve and excel can be just as rewarding. I gained new confidence that I could become something.
“I feel like I learned from that hard stop experience in Tokyo that I firmly believed I would never go back to,” Whitlock continued.
“A lot of things went wrong. There was nothing that made me wake up in the morning and think, 'I'm going to work hard to achieve this.' I said I felt it was a waste of space. But now it is different.
“I'm equally passionate about the business I've started, which has a huge impact on young kids, and the enthusiasm I get from that has helped me have a really positive outlook in the gym. The two complement each other.
“Deep down, I feel that Paris in 2024 is the right time to say, 'It's over.' For 24 years, I have continued to do everything I can to the best of my ability.
“I got my last chance, so I want to do my best.”
