There are few sights that can draw the eye of a crowd quite like a flawless gymnastics routine and those lucky enough to see Max Whitlock’s at the 2016 Gymnastics World Cup will remember it well.
Staged at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, Great Britain secured three podium finishes for the home crowd including Whitlock’s memorable gold.
With only three competitors taking part, it was a sterling performance from the home athletes that was matched every step of the way by the Glasgow crowd.
With the 35th European Athletics Indoor Championships almost upon us let’s have a look back at how it all unfolded three years ago.
Dynamite gymnasts with max whitlock at the Glasgow world cup today @Glasgow_Sport @GlasgowWCG @ScotGymnastics pic.twitter.com/9JxePccUTB
— Dynamite Gymnastics (@dynagym) 12 March 2016
Best of British
Barely six months earlier, Whitlock had become the first man to win a World Gymnastics Championship gold medal when he dominated the pommel horse to set his own Glasgow precedent as early as 2015.
The then 22-year-old beat fellow Brit Louis Smith on that day and returned to the Emirates in March 2016 as a world champion to challenge for the all-around World Cup title.
The south-Essex man started off strongly on the floor with just a few adjustments on landing and opened well to score a 15.033.
On to the pommel horse, of which he was the reigning world champion, he didn’t disappoint the home crowd and completed his routine beautifully for a world class 15.500.
On the rings Whitlock continued his good form the score 14.333 and on the vault he then completed his extremely difficult triple twisting Yurchenko scoring 15.133.
Staying steady on parallel bars, Whitlock then scored 14.500 to put him well above the rest of the field heading into the final rotation.
On the high bar he remained calm and confident, finishing his routine for a 14.800 and all-around total of 89.299 to top the standings.
Southport’s Dan Purvis – who this week retired from gymnastics – was also competing in same event and managed a bronze medal finish after fighting hard to stay on the pommel horse and delivering an outstanding performance on the parallel bars.
Meanwhile in the women’s event, Claudia Fragapane secured a bronze medal behind the USA’s Mckayla Skinner and Germany’s Elizabeth Seitz.
What the athletes said about the venue
Max Whitlock revealed how much he enjoys competing in Glasgow.
“I’m very happy my target was to do clean routines across all six pieces in my first Glasgow World Cup so I’m really happy. I really enjoy competing in Glasgow it’s a place I look forward to coming too knowing the crowd are really supportive,” he said.
Dan Purvis had high praise for the crowd and the support they offered up.
“I’m pleased with the outcome, happy that I recovered after pommel horse and battled through,” he said.
“The crowd were fantastic, there’s always a bit of pressure and expectation in Scotland but it’s also great fun and they really encourage you.”
And Claudia Fragapane reinforced Purvis’ comments.
“The crowd were brilliant and make it so much fun to compete,” she said.
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