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Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan qualified for the Commonwealth Games pommel horse final as he posted a score of 14.500 after a near flawless display with his new routine.
All eyes were on McClenaghan at the Emirates Arena and he delivered, even celebrating with a jig after stepping away from the machinery.
The 27-year-old finished third in qualifying with Scotland’s Reuben Ward and Canada’s Jordan Carroll (both 14.550) ahead of him.
“It’s amazing to have him back there, brand new routine, he smashed it with a great execution, we’re very positive about it and we have an upgraded routine for the final,” said his coach Luke Carson.
McClenaghan, who missed all of 2025 after undergoing shoulder surgery, earned a solid score of 5.500 and an execution score of 9.000, the highest in qualifying.
She was aiming to win her third Commonwealth Games medal on pommel horse after winning gold in 2018 and silver in 2022.
Newcastle’s men also took part in floor qualifying for the first time since 2018, but failed to make the final.
She scored a 12.350 for her routine as she stumbled at the end while landing a triple somersault.
Teammate Eamonn Montgomery faces an anxious wait to see if his 13.000 score will be enough to qualify for the final after receiving a 0.100 penalty.
Ewan McAteer reached the vault final as he finished third in qualifying with a score of 13.650.
“I definitely performed to the best of my ability, very happy with how the day went,” he said.
“It’s been a bit of a rough time for me here, I pulled a muscle in my stomach that extends up to my groin which really flared up so that’s where I did my first gymnastics but a pulled groin didn’t stop me today.”
