Back on the (pommel) horse – McClenaghan ready after 18 month lay off

It’s been 579 days since Rhys McClenaghan produced the best pommel horse routine of his life and achieved his lifelong dream of becoming the Olympic champion.

That glorious moment needed to be enjoyed and savoured.

What the 26 year-old didn’t know was that he’d get too much time on the sidelines.

A shoulder injury, that required surgery, has meant McClenaghan hasn’t competed since winning gold in Paris.

Now he is preparing for his much anticipated return to action at the Apparatus World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan (March 5-8) – and even the Olympic champion is admitting he’ll be nervous.

“Oh, most certainly,” McClenaghan told BBC Sport NI.

“I don’t think I’ve had this much of a break from competition, so I’m sure I’ll be nervous.

“I’m nervous at every competition I do, but that’s all part of the fun.

McClenaghan will compete at four World Cups ahead of a big summer with three major events – the Commonwealth Games, European and World Championships.

The Los Angeles Olympics are now just two years away, honing into view very quickly, and the world of gymnastics didn’t stop while McClenaghan was out of action.

As with every Olympic cycle some athletes retire or take time off, and there are always new kids on the block looking to move the sport forward – even old faces like two-time Olympic champion Max Whitlock announcing his return to the sport.

McClenaghan may have the Grand Slam of Olympic champion, two World titles, three European titles and a Commonwealth Games gold tucked away, but the Newtownards gymnast knows the biggest challenges lie ahead.

“I know that there’s a tough challenge ahead of me in any competition I go to,” McClenaghan added.

“In this sport there’s definitely no room to be content with previous results. There’s these younger guys coming from junior into senior, and they’re so good on pommel horse.

“It’s like a new generation of pommel horse workers, but I’m certainly up for the challenge. I can see pathways of beating each and every one of them, and I look forward to figuring that out like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

“I feel like the last year I was pretty content and rightfully so, but it was a struggle of a year where I was injured constantly.