Northern Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan has told Sports Mole that winning his country's first gold medal of the 2018 Commonwealth Games makes his achievement even more special.
McClenaghan produced a stunning display to beat England's Max Whitlock to gold on the pommel horse, despite Whitlock going into the competition as the overwhelming favourite having dominated the discipline in recent years.
The pair finished level on 15.100, but McClenaghan's superior execution score saw him pip Whitlock to the gold - his first major international medal at senior level.
The medal was also Northern Ireland's first on the Gold Coast, and McClenaghan admitted that it means even more to have led the way for his country.
"Yeah, of course it does. I'm very proud to come out and represent Northern Ireland," the 18-year-old told Sports Mole.
"I don't get to represent Northern Ireland very often but the fact that I'm at the Commonwealth Games, on this world stage, and [that] I went and delivered for my country is incredible."
McClenaghan's victory condemned Whitlock to a third successive Commonwealth silver on the pommel horse.
Barney Corkhill
