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Rhys McClenaghan becomes emotional after completing his Olympic final routine.

Rhys McClenaghan wins Olympic gold for Ireland

The Co. Down man earned a sensational, career-best score of 15.533 to win his pommel horse final.

RHYS MCCLENAGHAN HAS claimed gold for Ireland at the Paris Olympics after winning his pommel horse final.

McClenaghan’s routine was awarded a career-best score of 15.533 by the judges.

The two-time world champion from Co. Down is Ireland’s third gold medallist of these Paris games after swimmer Daniel Wiffen and rowing team Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy.

McClenaghan’s success in this gymnastics final yielded Ireland’s 14th ever Olympic gold medal and saw him become Ireland’s first ever Olympic medallist in his sport.

McClenaghan was the fourth gymnast to perform his routine in Saturday’s final and overtook then-leader Nariman Kurbanov, whose score of 15.433 was enough for the Kazakh to take silver.

American Stephen Nedoroscik, who earned the joint highest score of the heats alongside McClenaghan, took bronze with 15.300.

Back-to-back Olympic champion Max Whitlock of Great Britain finished outside the medal spots in fourth with a score of 15.200.

McClenaghan’s score of 15.533 was a personal best and proved unassailable in what had been billed as one of the most hotly contested finals of the entire Olympic Games.

The Newtownards native increased the difficulty of his routine to 6.6 and earned an 8.9 for his execution, the highest of any of the eight finalists.

McClenaghan, 25, broke into tears as he was presented with his Olympic gold medal.

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    Mute munsterman
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:18 PM

    It’s greatest ever Olympics. Delighted for the lad after Tokyo

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    Mute John Manahan
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:19 PM

    Irelands 3rd gold , not second !!! Well done to all

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    Mute Brenda Collins
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:20 PM

    Unbelievable. What an athlete. Delighted for him. He’s had a journey.

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    Mute Kevin Dillon
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:20 PM

    Amazing from Rhys. What a games so far. 12th on medal table now.

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    Mute munsterman
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:29 PM

    @Kevin Dillon: 1 gold medal behind Germany after a week of the games!

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    Mute Sean
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:45 PM

    @munsterman: should had more but for boxing officals

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:20 PM

    So happy for Rhys, wanted it so much. So well deserved, absolutely unreal, the difficulty must be off the charts.
    Congratulations.

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:21 PM

    @Michael Kennedy: highest score ever, in the Olympic final, wow!!!!

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    Mute anthony davoren
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:29 PM

    I know nothing about this sport and yet found myself willing every twist and turn he did. Unbelievable achievement. It’s been some Olympics so far for Ireland. The greatest ever perhaps? To think we didn’t even have a 50 metre swimming pool or centre of excellence a few years ago. Not to mention how close to medals so many others were. Huge success.

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:45 PM

    @anthony davoren: I could hardly watch it especially after seeing some of the other competitors not doing well.

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    Mute Sean
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:46 PM

    @Bert Carolan: im the same to nervous

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    Mute Square
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:18 PM

    Wow fantastic amazing but so nervous best olympics ever rr

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    Mute Cathal Scully
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:20 PM

    Phenomenal performance

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    Mute John Morris
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 10:05 PM

    @Cathal Scully: Equally phenomenal interview with RTE afterwards, this young man is an exemplar.

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:23 PM

    Great performance from Rhys, you could see on his face when he landed that he felt he had it.

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    Mute cian nolan
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:21 PM

    Get in!!!!!! Treat yourself to a glass or 2 of something special tonight folks!

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 6:12 PM

    @cian nolan: or weed

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    Mute Brendan Griffin
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:32 PM

    Stupendous. Well done to the young fellow, nerves of steel. And so happy to him after Tokyo 3 years ago. He’s been on some mission since then.

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:33 PM

    Fantastic. Had to be under so much pressure after last Olympics. Made no secret that he was only going to be happy with gold.

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:43 PM

    @Bert Carolan: That’s the most impressive thing for me. The pressure on him was massive. There are plenty talented athletes out there but what makes the difference between the best and rest is Consistency and ability to perform under pressure.

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    Mute anthony davoren
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:26 PM

    No sign of Ray Ridge I see. Some things will never change. He’s probably over slating the cyclists true to his form

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    Mute Cathal Scully
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:28 PM

    @anthony davoren: I’d say he’s gutted Rhys won!

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:34 PM

    @anthony davoren: Be positive for the gold medal, never mind anything else.

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    Mute Dave McAuliffe
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 7:07 PM

    3 gold medals already for Ireland, with hopefully more to come

    20 years ago we got no medals.

    We’re living in rare times

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    Mute Sean
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:48 PM

    Truly outstanding

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:38 PM

    Yes, it goes without saying. Of course I’m delighted. Looked flawless routine to the untrained eye.

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    Mute Sean
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:47 PM

    @Ray Ridge well i never fair play

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:55 PM

    @Sean: I always call it as I see. A spades a spade with me. Some people don’t like that.

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 6:06 PM

    @Ray Ridge: Ur first positive comment ever. Congrats

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 6:12 PM

    @Gary Galligan: Rhys is from Northern Ireland also BTW.

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    Mute orb7eckn
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 6:54 PM

    @Ray Ridge: Give up will you

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    Mute Simon Dwyer
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 6:51 PM

    Many congratulations Rhys. You worked so hard for this brilliant actually

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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 7:19 PM

    Well done Rhys

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:34 PM

    Will Ray be happy?

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    Mute Sean
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 5:45 PM

    @SYaxJ2Ts: he is hiding now as predicted

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    Mute David Ryan
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    Aug 3rd 2024, 6:45 PM

    @Sean: in his mom’s basement

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