Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2023: Rhys McClenaghan defends pommel horse world title with American Khoi Young taking silver
After Max Whitlock came off the pommel horse, the door opened for others. American Khoi Young won silver with Jordan's Ahmad Abu Al-Soud rounding off the podium
Artistic Gymnastics
Three-time Olympic pommel horse champion Max Whitlock of Great Britain came off his signature apparatus Saturday (7 October) during the apparatus final at the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, opening the door for defending champion Rhys McClenaghan of Ireland, third best in quaifying, who seized the opportunity.
He took gold with a 15.100, followed by American Khoi Young, 14.966. Jordan's Ahmad Abu Al-Soud was third with a 14.633.
McClenaghan, whose gold medal in 2022 was a first for Ireland, was last to compete, knowing what he needed to do to become the first man to win back-to-back titles on the event since Whitlock did it in 2015 and 2017.
He delivered, motioning to the crowd as he came off the podium.
Competing one after another, Whitlock was second up, while Young was third to go. Whitlock came to grief in the second half of his routine. It was a rare mistake for the six-time Olympic medallist. He scored just 14.300.
Young followed delivering a smooth and clean routine to the delight of his U.S. teammates who were stationed nearby in the stands and could be heard screaming throughout the exercise. He posted a 14.966 for gold.
The silver medal is the second for Young in Antwerp, helping his squad to bronze in the team final. He is just the fourth American to claim a medal of any colour on the event.