Max Whitlock: Three-time Olympic champion explains gymnastics retirement U-turn as he eyes Los Angeles 2028 | Olympic news

Gymnast Max Whitlock explains his U-turn after retiring from the sport after the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris; Whitlock is targeting Los Angeles 2028 and insists he will be done after the Olympics in two years.

Max Whitlock explains to Sky Sports News why he returned to gymnastics

Three-time Olympic champion Max Whitlock says he is “massively fired up” and doesn’t need to convince his family to come out of retirement.

Whitlock retired from gymnastics after the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris but made a shock comeback at the end of last year and is hoping to earn a place in the Team GB squad for Los Angeles 2028.

The Briton will be 35 at the next Olympics in LA and says he wants to take his main pupil, the pommel horse, “further than I’ve pushed it”.

“It’s incredible to be back. It’s amazing to be able to say I’m a gymnast again, I’m an athlete,” she said. Sky Sports News.

“I’ve just had my first international back competition. Some good bits, some not so good bits, but loads of work, so I’m massively fired up.

“We’re gearing up for the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships, so I’m back in the thick of it, and it’s very exciting. We’ve got just over two years in LA, that’s my ultimate goal. And believe me, after LA I’ll finish, I’ll finish!”

Whitlock was “itching” to make a U-turn on his retirement decision after failing to win a medal at Paris 2024.

Whitlock: I didn’t want any regrets

Whitelock burst onto the scene at London 2012 with bronze medals in the team and pommel horse events, before winning two golds on floor and pommel horse at Rio 2016.

He defended his pommel horse title at Tokyo 2020 and was a strong medal contender for Paris 2024, but finished fourth and failed to come away with a medal.

The 33-year-old admitted missing out on a medal was “a lot harder” than he expected and that his career “didn’t end right”.

The 33-year-old won two golds at Rio 2016

“I couldn’t fight the feeling that something was constantly itching at me and almost thinking ‘I could do more,'” Whitlock said.

“So I think, fast forward 20 years, do I regret not coming back for two years and that final push to really squeeze everything I can into the sport?

“I still feel like my body can give more. I still feel like I can do more physically, mentally. I want to prove myself and do what I can.”

Whitlock is building up to the Commonwealth Games and World Championships later this year

He added: “I think I’m very lucky to be in this position. There was zero motivation. I think a lot of people, people close to me, saw that something was missing. I’m saying, ‘Actually I’m coming back’, telling my family, making a decision with them doesn’t just bring a smile to their face.

“My wife is mega excited for me to come back. (My daughter) Willow is mega excited for me and my whole family, my mom, dad, my brother, everyone is excited to come back and see me compete.

“I think they really felt a bit of a gap when I said I was done.”