While Max Whitlock was labouring to a second consecutive disappointment at the European Championships in Glasgow, Simone Biles swept all before her on a spectacular and poignant return at the US Nationals.
They could hardly have experienced a more contrasting year to date, but two of the sport’s modern greats are united in their determination to restore their dominance on a global level at the World Championships in Qatar next week.
Biles, clad in a teal leotard to show solidarity with other US sex assault victims, duly turned her comeback into a cakewalk in Boston. But Whitlock has been left to reflect that in some eyes he has fallen short of his own Olympian expectation levels.
Chilled day today. Back to training tomorrow 👍🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/lbaojcrzcm — Max Whitlock MBE (@maxwhitlock1) October 23, 2018
Whitlock, who also missed out on pommel gold at the Commonwealth Games, told Press Association Sport: “I find it funny that people think two medals at the Commonwealths is a failure, or if I come away from a major championships with one gold instead of two.
“I take it as a compliment because it is all set against the levels I have set for myself. It’s getting harder and harder, but that just motivates me even more, and it is a huge credit to the sport that the competition has become so tough.”
Whitlock, who will once again restrict himself to competing on floor and pommel in Doha, will for the first time enter a major championships without his coach and close friend Scott Hann, who is staying at home for family reasons.
“It’s important to never stop learning in my sport and what happened at the Commonwealths and Glagow has given me so much more focus,” added Whitlock.
“Obviously I would like to be perfect in every competition but that is never going to happen. I look back at my Rio gold medal routines and see improvements. That is the bigger picture that really drives me on.”
Most eyes will be on Biles, the 21-year-old quadruple Rio gold medallist, who says she will return to elite competition “fully refreshed” and ready to raise the bar again after enjoying a complete, 18-month break from the sport
.@Simone_Biles making it look EASY on floor during podium training! #DohaGym2018 pic.twitter.com/55T1EgxOC6 — USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) October 23, 2018
“It was such a great idea for me to take a break because I was completely drained mentally and physically,” Biles told Press Association Sport. “I needed to take time off to do things I really wanted to do.
“I didn’t even watch the last World Championships (in Montreal), and the only gymnastics I did was a bit of trampolining with friends. But it never occurred to me that I might not come back and try to be even better.”
… and the "Photobomb of the year" award goes to @Simone_Biles on @morgihurd. 📸😂 These girls have some big plans for #DohaGym2018. ➡️ https://t.co/r6OlFDIonF pic.twitter.com/xQmHw7jsaZ — Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) October 24, 2018
Biles’ re-emergence comes amid the escalating scandal at US Gymnastics, whose former president Steve Penny has been indicted on charges of tampering with evidence in the Larry Nassar sex abuse case, and whose latest interim boss Mary Bono resigned after just four days in the job this month.
Great Britain’s interest in the Championships starts with men’s qualifications on Friday. A top-three finish in either the men’s or women’s team competitions will ensure automatic qualification for Tokyo 2020.
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