OLYMPIC SPECIAL
MAGIC Max Whitlock led the charge on a Sensational Sunday for Britain with two gold medals in under two hours.
On a day when British stars shone, the 23-year-old gleamed brightest and secured his place in history by winning Team GB’s first gold medals in gymnastics.
Between these victories, Justin Rose became the first Olympic golf champion in 112 years, defying the sport’s most famous faces who had chosen not to travel to Brazil because of fears over the Zika virus.
Whitlock’s second gold last night took Team GB above China to second in the medal table behind only the US. As success followed success:
Mo Farah came back from a fall to win the 10,000m in the early hours, becoming Team GB’s first threetime gold medallist on the track;
Jessica Ennis-Hill won silver in the heptathlon, narrowly missing out on the gold she took in London 2012;
Greg Rutherford won bronze in the long jump, adding to his gold in London 2012;
Cyclists Jason Kenny won gold and Callum Skinner took silver in the men’s sprint at the velodrome;
Strictly Come Dancing’s Louis Smith took silver in the pommel horse behind Whitlock;
Defending champion Andy Murray, the world number two, was guaranteed gold or silver in the tennis.
Nick Dempsey secured silver in windsurfing;
Giles Scott also secured gold in the men’s finn-class sailing, however his medal will not be confirmed until the races finish on Tuesday.
Whitlock was not among the favourites to win gold for the floor exercises, but he produced a flawless routine while others faltered under intense pressure.
He became the first ever British medal winner in the discipline, following it two hours later with a stunning performance on the pommel horse, which he had been favourite to win.
His closest rival was 27-year-old fellow Briton, Smith, who had also won silver in London four years earlier. The two golds took Whitlock’s personal medal tally to three after he also won bronze in the men’s allround event on Wednesday.
The atmosphere in the gymnastic arena was electric, with Brazilians packing in to see two local favourites take silver and bronze behind the Briton on the floor as hundreds of Britons waved Union Jacks.
Last night, bookmakers Coral slashed the odds of him being crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2016 to 6-1.
Whitlock said: ‘I have completely outdone myself. I am very proud.
‘I never go into competition expecting to get a medal, I go in to do my job. Years in the gym come down to one minute. I am so happy.’
He said that after the first gold, he had to ‘refocus’, adding: ‘I had another job to do. Now I can take both in at the same time. The emotion hit me when I realised what I had done.
‘I didn’t know what scores were coming through really. It just hit me. That’s history, which is incredible.
‘Now I can proudly finish this Olympics with a smile on my face. The Olympic Games only comes around every four years and that makes it more special. I just feel complete.’
Former gymnast and BBC presenter Gabby Logan raised the possibility of a knighthood for him last night, tweeting: ‘Incredible. Another gold for magic Max. Sir Max Whitlock?’
Smith said he was nervous leading up to his routine after falling in the team event, adding: ‘I did my easy routine, I just finished and felt an over-whelming feeling of relief, that I can still do my pommel. I knew Max was the only one who could challenge so I just had to play the waiting game.
‘I would have liked to win gold – but I am also so proud of myself.’
Asked how he felt about losing to Whitlock again, he said: ‘I would rather lose to Max than anyone else. The gold is coming back to Britain. Max held his nerve... [he] deserved to win today.’ And he insisted they were friends, despite speculation over their relationship. He said: ‘After this we are definitely going to have a few drinks – it is along time since I have tasted alcohol.’
Britain’s chef de mission Mark England said: ‘We are on a roll. We have had so many firsts. We just want to keep it going.’
Britain is on course for its most successful foreign Olympics, with the Rio team set to pass the 47 medals won in Beijing eight years ago. Team GB won 65 in London but no team has ever won more away from home than as a host.