Max's next mission - changing gymnastic's grassroots

Paris 2024 - shortly after his pommel horse routine, Whitlock announced his retirement

Olympics legend Max Whitlock has made his next mission changing the "grassroots" of gymnastics.

Whitlock announced his retirement from competition after finishing fourth in Saturday's Olympic pommel horse final.

The defending Olympic champion was seeking to become the first gymnast to win medals on the same apparatus at four successive Games.

He told BBC Sport: "I am done with my competing career and now I want to change gymnastics for the grassroots and that is my next mission."

'Super proud'

He added: "I am pleased, I don't want anyone to think that I am not very happy. I think it is gutting, of course it is, and it's disappointing.

"But I am done now - I am not a gymnast any more, I have done my final routine."

Whitlock said he was incredibly proud of his achievements, despite missing out on a medal in his final Olympic Games.

He trained at the South Essex Gymnastics Club, in Basildon, and he said he was grateful to everyone who had helped him.

Whitlock said: "I feel very grateful to be a gymnast.

"I feel very fortunate to do a sport that I love".

His coach, Anthony Wise, said: "We really wanted Max to get that final medal but we are super proud of him anyway."