Rhys McClenaghan, the gymnast from Newtownards, County Down, will compete at his third Commonwealth Games this weekend, targeting a return to the top of the pommel horse podium.

McClenaghan won gold at the 2018 Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and silver at the 2022 event in Birmingham. He is also the Olympic champion, a three-time world champion, and a three-time European champion on the apparatus, having completed a career grand slam.

After recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of competition in 2025, the 27-year-old is using the Glasgow 2026 Games as part of his build-up towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

He said the Commonwealth Games provide a chance to showcase a routine that is still a work in progress, while the Olympics are where he wants to present the finished article. Rule changes have forced him to develop an entirely new routine, but he believes he is in a strong position.

McClenaghan stated that winning titles across multiple Olympic cycles demonstrates mastery of an event, and that retiring immediately after his Olympic triumph would have wasted his remaining potential. He said he remains healthy and able to be the best in the world.

He also reflected on the privilege of competing at major international events, adding that while the novelty may have faded compared to his first appearance, he feels deep gratitude each time and believes athletes should recognise and appreciate such opportunities.

McClenaghan will face England’s Joe Fraser, the reigning Commonwealth champion, but his pedigree makes him a strong favourite to reclaim gold.