McClenaghan through to pommel horse final in Paris

Team Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan has qualified for the final of the pommel horse after a strong qualification round at the Bercy Arena.

He posted the joint-highest score of the day with 15.200, and is safely through to the final next Saturday.

The 25-year-old joins Stephen Nedoroscik of the USA as the top qualifier, ahead of reigning champion Max Whitlock, who recorded 15.166.

McClenaghan had to wait until the fifth rotation before emerging for the pommel, but put in a confident routine with a difficulty score of 6.300 and execution of 8.900.

If qualifying scores were applied to the final and he finished level with Nedoroscik, McClenaghan would take gold due to a higher execution score.

GB gymnast Whitlock won gold in Tokyo three years ago as an error in the final led to McClenaghan finishing in seventh place.

The 25-year-old bounced back to win back-to-back gold medals at the World Championship in 2022 and 2023, and will look to add an Olympic medal to his collection when he returns to the Bercy Arena on Saturday.

McClenaghan is one of three world champions from Northern Ireland to compete at the Games in Paris.