Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan will make his return to competition this week at the Baku Artistic Gymnastics World Cup, marking his first appearance since his historic gold medal performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
McClenaghan made history in Paris by winning gold on the pommel horse, delivering Ireland’s first-ever Olympic medal in gymnastics. The achievement capped years of excellence on the international stage, where he had already established himself as a multiple World and European champion and one of the sport’s leading specialists on the apparatus.
Following his Olympic triumph, McClenaghan had mapped out a structured return to competition during 2025. However, persistent injury challenges disrupted those plans and ultimately led to shoulder surgery in July of last year.
“I’m delighted that everything went to plan with the operation and I can make my way back to maintaining my spot as the best in the world at what I do,” the Olympic champion shared on social media at the time. “This is the reality of sport, and I love all of the challenges it throws my way.”
His recovery has been characterised by the same discipline and focus that underpinned his rise to the top of the sport. Rehabilitation, conditioning and the refinement of a new pommel horse routine have formed the backbone of his preparations as he builds towards another Olympic cycle.
Now fully fit, McClenaghan will return to competition on 6th March in Baku, Azerbaijan, before travelling to Antalya, Turkey for the second event of the World Cup series the following week.
Speaking ahead of his comeback, he said he views the competition as the beginning of a fresh chapter.
“I’m really happy to have my first competition coming up. The last time I competed was at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where everything came together and I won gold, so this feels like the start of a new chapter after a challenging year with injury and shoulder surgery,” he said. “This competition is about finding my rhythm again, testing the new pommel horse routine, and then using the World Cup series to keep building momentum. It’s about getting back into competition mode and continuing to improve with each outing.”
The Baku World Cup runs from 5th to 8th March. Qualifications for men’s floor and rings take place on 5th March, with high bar and pommel horse qualifiers — including McClenaghan’s return — scheduled for 6th March. Apparatus finals will follow across 7th and 8th March.
The Antalya World Cup will take place from 12th to 15th March, with qualifications across the first two days and apparatus finals concluding the event.
McClenaghan will be joined by a strong Irish contingent across the two World Cup stops. 2025 Youth Olympic double medallist Chester Enriquez will compete on floor in his first World Cup event, while Oisin O’Connell is also set for his debut at this level on high bar. Eamon Montgomery (floor), Daniel Fox (rings) and James Hickey (pommel horse) will all return to international competition in 2026.
Finals from both events will be streamed live via the International Gymnastics Federation’s platform at worldgymnastics.tv, giving Irish fans the opportunity to follow the Olympic champion’s return to the world stage.
Image Credit: Gymnastics Ireland
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