THIS is the moment a Basildon gymnast was reuinted with his daughter after winning gold at the Olympics.

28-year-old Max Whitlock, who trains in Basildon, secured gold in the men’s pommel horse competition on Sunday – the sixth Olympic medal of his career – as his young daughter and wider family watched from home.

A gold medallist at the Rio games in 2016, Whitlock has since married his childhood sweetheart Leah and welcomed now two-year-old Willow into the world.

Whitlock, wearing his gold medal, hugged Leah and Willow after touching down at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday.

Whitlock was surprised by his family showing up as they had not told him they were coming.

The adorable reaction was shared on Whitlock's Twitter page.

 

The family-of-three reunited with hugs and smiles, and were pictured walking hand-in-hand.

Whitlock was also pictured crouched down next to toddler Willow showing her the gold medal and giving her the mascot that was part of his medal bouquet.

Shortly before his win in Japan, Leah shared a photo on Twitter of their daughter sitting alongside her cousins ready to watch her father compete on TV.

Leah later tweeted after her husband’s win: “We are so unbelievably proud of you @maxwhitlock1 “You did the most amazing routine going up first and under so much pressure and you went for it. Just amazing. We can’t wait to see you! We love you so much!!”

She also posted video clips of her husband’s family celebrating his win.

Whitlock, who threw down an early gauntlet to his competitors by going first on the pommel, said he felt “absolutely lost for words” and “completely overwhelmed” after his win.