World Gymnastics Championships: Rhys McClenaghan qualifies for Olympics
- Published
Rhys McClenaghan fell off the pommel horse at last year's World Championships with a shoulder injury that kept him out of action for six months
Gymnastics World Championships |
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Venue: Stuttgart, Germany Dates: 4-13 October |
Coverage: Watch live coverage on BBC One, BBC Two, Red Button, Connected TV, online & the BBC Sport app from 8 October. |
Rhys McClenaghan is through to the pommel horse final at the World Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart.
The County Down gymnast's mark of 15.200 has also earned him a place at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
After two days of qualifying, the 20-year-old's score was only bettered by Great Britain's Olympic champion Max Whitlock who set the top score of 15.266.
McClenaghan becomes the first Irish gymnast to reach a world final.
'I can add so much more' - McClenaghan
Both himself and Whitlock, who is a two-time world champion, were well ahead of the other seven qualifiers in advancing to Saturday's final.
There were three Olympic places available for gymnasts who reached the final but were from a country not already qualified for Tokyo in the team competition.
In the end only two of those spots were claimed by McClenaghan (Ireland) and Cyril Tommasone from France.
Rhys McClenaghan is set to realise his Olympic dream at next summer's games in Tokyo
McClenaghan's personal best score was set in the World Challenge Cup event in Slovenia in June of 15.450.
In 2018, the Newtownards gymnast won the Commonwealth Games title with 15.000 and the European title with a score of 15.300.
However a shoulder injury, which put him out of action for six months, scuppered any chance of a World Championship title last year.
Last year's world title was won by China's Xiao Ruoteng in Doha with a score of 15.166.
BBC coverage times
Times are BST and subject to late changes.
Tuesday, 8 October
Women's team final
13:30-16:15 - live coverage - BBC Two
Wednesday, 9 October
Men's team final
13:30-16:15 - live coverage - BBC Two
Thursday, 10 October
Women's all-around final
14:45-18:00 - live coverage - BBC Two
Friday, 11 October
Men's all-around final
14:45-18:00 - live coverage - BBC Two
17:55-18:30 - live coverage - BBC Red Button
14:45-18:30 - uninterrupted coverage - Connected TV and online
Saturday, 12 October
Day one of apparatus finals - men's floor, pommel horse and rings. Women's vault and uneven bars
14:45-16:30 - live coverage - BBC One
16:30-19:00 - live coverage - BBC Two
14:45-19:00 - uninterrupted coverage - Connected TV and online
Sunday, 13 October
Day two of apparatus finals - men's vault, parallel bars and high bar. Women's beam and floor
11:30-16:00 - live coverage - BBC Two