Gymnasts’ Return: 3 of the Greatest Back on the Floor

Gymnasts’ return

Some gymnasts take a well-deserved respite following the conclusion of an Olympic cycle and forgo participation in the subsequent inaugural year. Three-time Olympic Champion Max Whitlock, OBE (GBR), announced his retirement after the 2024 Olympics; however, he has chosen to extend his career and compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Rhys McClenaghan, MBE, who secured a gold medal on the Pommel Horse at the Paris competition, suspended his athletic career last year due to an injury and subsequent shoulder surgery performed in June of that year.

Yul Moldauer has been issued a 16-month ban, retroactively effective from September 2024, by the United States Anti-Doping Agency due to a violation of anti-doping regulations pertaining to whereabouts failures, which include three missed tests within a 12-month period. He has expressed his intention to continue training in pursuit of qualification for the 2028 Summer Olympics. His suspension expired in January 2026.

Max Whitlock

Max Whitlock (GBR)
Competitions:
– 2026 English Championships
Tefford – 27 Feb. – 1 Mar.
– 2026 British Championships
Liverpool – 19-22 Mar.

Max won gold on Pommel Horse at the English Championships.

Yul Moldauer

Yul Moldauer (USA)
Competition:
2026 DTB Pokal Challenge
Stuttgart – 19-22 March

Yul won silver in the All-Around. gold on Parallel Bars and bronze on Pommel Horse.

Rhys McClenaghan

Rhys McClenaghan (IRL)
Competition:
– 2026 Baku World Cup
5-8 March
– 2026 Antalya World Cup
12-15 March

Rhys won gold on Pommel Horse at the Antalya World Cup.

More:
Max Whitlock exclusive: “This two-year journey towards LA28 means a lot to me”
2026 MAG World Cup Series