Winner of six Olympic medals (three gold, three bronze) and a five-time world medallist – at just 29 years old, Max Whitlock is the most successful gymnast in British history and the best pommel horse gymnast of all time. Now, he and his wife, elite coach Leah Hickton, have made a home in Essex with their daughter, Willow. Max tells us about life in the county, looks back on his biggest career achievements and tells us what’s next...
How did you get into gymnastics and when did you start training in Essex?
I was seven years old when I started gymnastics in Hemel Hempstead. I was originally into swimming, and a friend from there said I should come along and try gymnastics – it was in the same leisure centre. He got me to try a few skills like handstands and cartwheels and I could almost do them straight away. So, I got started and loved it!
I moved to train in South Essex Gymnastics Club when I was 12, which is the club I'm still at now. I feel fortunate to have such a great club and great team.
The London 2012 Olympics seems like a distant memory, but it was where many people first saw you. How do you remember that summer?
London 2012 was unbelievable; I wasn't expected to make London, but I was determined to get into that team! I was young, and you could say inexperienced, which meant I had nothing to lose – it was a competition to remember. A home games is so rare; London was a huge springboard in my career.
It was after the Rio 2016 Olympics that you became a household name. How did life change for you?
For me, it's been an honour to have helped along the team; the sport has gone on leaps and bounds. Recognition rocketed, which was crazy, but what I found amazing was the amount of people who said that they loved watching. Overall, I'm pretty chilled; after a little bit of time off I was back in the gym and back to normality with new targets to aim for.
You’re a role model to so many people. How do you manage that pressure?
I feel very honoured to be able to be in that position. Some of the most amazing comments I get are when someone has started gymnastics or another sport because of me. Pressure has kept increasing, which is difficult, but with that so has support, so I can't complain.
You’ve got a three-year-old daughter, Willow. Has she changed your outlook?
She has massively put things into perspective. Willow is my priority, which in sport has helped me a lot. I have always said how important having a balance is and having Willow has forced that, which is great. Willow does gymnastics once a week now and she loves it. She also does tennis, dancing and swimming so she is quite busy!
What advice would you give to your younger self?
To not look too much at what others are doing unless it's to motivate you. It's so easy nowadays with social media to think that you're not doing enough or that everyone else is further ahead than you or more successful. It's important to find what it is that you want to do and enjoy the process of whatever that is, not to be distracted or let what anyone else is doing change your direction.
You've had success at the World Championships, the European Championships, Commonwealth Games, Olympics – but what has been your high point?
It's hard to pick, and I'm not sure if it's Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021) because it still feels quite fresh as it was the most recent one for me. But also, Tokyo was the hardest one in a way because of the pressure, the year delay etc. It made getting a gold feel even more rewarding.
What made you settle in Essex?
I live in Upminster now; I moved to Essex in 2014 so I could be closer to the gym. Where we are now is nice because it’s not too far from anything but it still feels like it's far enough out of the way. So, it's pretty chilled and quiet where we are.
You’re an ambassador for 1Life leisure centres. What attracted you to the organisation and why do you think it’s so important to make sport accessible?
I'm proud to be working with 1Life. Leisure centres have been hugely important in my career within the gymnastics facilities that I have trained in. A big thing for me is to encourage people to join a sport or even just keep active, and working with 1Life helps that mission. They are a fast-moving company and we have some exciting plans to work together further to help get more children into sport at grassroots level.
