TEAM GB's Max Whitlock competed in his last ever Olympics today, earning an impressive 15.2 score which sadly was not enough for a medal in the high-scoring men's pommel final.

Max Whitlock, who trained in Basildon, reached the pommel horse final which took place today and scored an impressive 15.200, going second after Kazakhstan's Nariman Kurbanov who scored 15.433.

Labour leader of Basildon Council, Gavin Callaghan, led tributes to the Olympian who put the town on the international stage.

Mr Callaghan said: “Hard luck to Max Whitlock today. What a phenomenal Olympian he is and a brilliant advert for Basildon gymnastics.”

Ireland's Rhys McCleanaghan won Gold with 15.533, Kazakhstan's Nariman Kurbanov won silver 15.433 and the United State's Stephen Nedoroscik won bronze at 15.300 - very high scores for a pommel final.

After competing his final performance, where he came fourth, Max said: "I love the sport, I love every minute, I now want to change gymnastics for the grassroots, so hopefully I can do that.

"That's my next mission."

Before competing today it was known that if Max, 31, secured another medal at the Paris Games, he would have been the first athlete ever to win medals on the same apparatus at four consecutive Olympics.

Before Paris 2024, Max had won three Olympic gold medals and three world titles, making him one of the greatest British athletes of his generation - and Britain's most successful gymnast. 

Max was born in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, near the Essex border, and after following his coach Bedenik to Maribor aged 12, then joining the South Essex gymnastics club where he is still currently coached by Scott Hann. 

At the age of only 12, Max first met Leah Hickton at the South Essex gymnastics club, with the pair being married in 2017.

In 2018, Max and Leah together set up the Max Whitlock Gymnastics Club which promotes gymnastics for children, with locations in Colchester and Southend.

Married - Max Whitlock met the Essex-born Leah Hicton aged 12, later marrying in 2017Married - Max Whitlock met the Essex-born Leah Hickton aged 12, later marrying in 2017 (Image: PA)

Competing at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympics, Max became Britain's first ever Olympic Champion in artistic gymnastics to win both the men's floor and pommel horse exercises in one game – further marking him out as Team GB’s most successful Olympic gymnasts. 

Basildon-based Max started his career aged just seven and is now set to retire after the Games, with his family being able to witness him perform, unlike Tokyo 2020.

After the Tokyo games in 2021, Max took an 18-month break from competition to address mental health issues.

Max said: “For 24 years I’ve been pushing to do everything I possibly can.

"I’ve got one final opportunity to grab, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”