Olympic gold medallist Rhys McClenaghan is braced for a busy summer with the Commonwealth Games and European Championships on the horizon.

He knows it is a fortunate position to be in after spending 2025 watching pommel horse events from home following shoulder surgery.

Now, back fully fit, McClenaghan is ready to show off a new routine in Glasgow that he is hoping to perfect by the time the 2028 Olympics in LA roll around.

Entering a new phase of his career that he has dubbed “Rhys 2.0”, the Newtownards native is relishing the chance to go again, but is drawing on all his previous experiences to move forward.

“The Commonwealth Games is a good chance to show your work in progress. At the Olympic Games you want to see your finished product,” he told BBC Sport NI.

“It’s going to be a work in progress but hopefully one that is the best in the world too. I’m in a really good position with it.

“Part of me is striving be like a younger Rhys but the reality is I’m doing a completely new routine and the rule changes have pushed me into that direction, that’s the Rhys 2.0 there.

“It’s what separates the really good gymnasts from the great. If you can win titles throughout multiple Olympic cycles you have mastered that event. I feel like I’m doing that nicely now.”

McClenaghan burst onto the scene at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018, winning a gold medal as an 18-year-old as he beat reigning Olympic champion Max Whitlock.

The 26-year-old believes that victory “was the set up for my entire career” and he is keen to repeat the feat after finishing second in Birmingham four years ago.

“Coming second in Birmingham, I was so close to retaining the title and it would now be so nice to sandwich that silver medal with a gold either side of it.”

McClenaghan is also encouraged by the potential of Team NI heading to the Games and is confident that they can come away with a big medal haul across various sports.

“I can see the ambition in these young athletes and I love that,” he added.

“I feel like the tide has changed a little bit in terms of people being reserved and not saying what they want to achieve, but now people are saying they are going to win medals and I love to see it.

“It’s Northern Ireland saying we’re ready to take on the world not just participate. We’re wanting to break records at this one.”

After his enforced spell on the sidelines, which brought a lot of time for reflecting, McClenaghan feels grateful to back competing fit and healthy again and enjoying his sport.

“A lot of people thought I would take a step away from gymnastics after the Olympics, take a year out and do nothing, but I really wanted to get back into competing straight away, win a fourth European title and my third World title in a row. That was the goal for 2025 but that shoulder injury bothered me too much,” he explained.

“The silver lining to that was I could really process my career and the success of the Paris Olympics. It’s a big thing having one goal your entire life, then it’s achieved at the age of 25, it takes a lot of mental processing. Although I was frustrated at being injured it left a lot of time for thinking.

“You only realise when you get the Olympic gold medal you weren’t doing it just for the medal. The injury made me grateful that I’m able to do gymnastics.”

Having become the first gymnast to complete a career Grand Slam, McClenaghan has a relentless desire to keep going and is now focused on enhancing his legacy.

“I’ve achieved every major title there is in the sport and I love looking at my potential and I feel if I stopped after winning the Olympic Games, my potential would have been wasted. I’m still healthy and able to be the best in the world at what I do.”