Olympics Rio 2016: Max Whitlock claims double gold for Britain on Super Sunday, Smith takes silver
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Updated 15/08/2016 at 06:35 GMT
Max Whitlock won a second gold medal for Great Britain on the pommel horse barely two hours after he won the floor exercise title.
Britain's Max Whitlock (R) and Britain's Louis Smith celebrate on the podium of the men's pommel horse event
Image credit: AFP
The 23-year-old saw off competition from British team-mate Louis Smith (15.833) and the USA’s Alexander Naddour (15.700) to win with a mark of 15.966 after a flawless display.
Less than two hours earlier, Whitlock had won the floor exercise with a score of 15.633, ahead of Brazil's Diego Hypolito (15.533) and Arthur Mariano (15.433).
"I can't describe it; it's just incredible," he told the BBC. "I don't know what to say. I am just so, so happy.
"It was really cool to see two flags rise up there, it's just an amazing feeling," Whitlock told reporters.
"It's such a proud feeling to hear your national anthem being played and just stand there with Louis, one and two again like the world championship."
After winning gold in the floor exercise, Whitlock had to remain focused on the next event before he could savour the moment, Whitlock said.
"I couldn't really take in what I'd done on the floor. I had another job to do on pommel horse and I had to go back and refocus and get warmed up for that," he said.
On his future beyond Rio, he said victory had just fired him up to keep going.
"There's always stuff for me to learn," he said. "As I say after every competition, it motivates me even more to get back in the gym and learn more stuff, and I feel that way now."
Making history is an incredible feeling
Great Britain team-mate Kristian Thomas came 7th on the floor with his score of 15.058 and Japan's Kochei Uchimura, the three-time Olympic champion and silver medallist in the floor exercise at London 2012, came fifth.
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Diego Hypolito (BRA) of Brazil, Max Whitlock (GBR) of Britain and Arthur Mariano (BRA) of Brazil pose with their medals.
Image credit: Reuters
It comes after Whitlock won Britain's first all-around gymnastics Olympic medal in 108 years when he took bronze earlier in the week.
He has now won five Olympic medals, with two bronzes - in the team event and the pommel horse - at London 2012.
"Max has been an absolute star in this competition. He's been incredible," an emotional Smith told the BBC after collecting his bronze.
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Louis Smith (GBR) of Britain tears on the podium.
Image credit: Reuters
"It's hard to keep composure when a team-mate has just won a medal. I just tried to keep focus."
Britain now has 14 golds in Brazil and they are second in the table ahead of China - their overall total is 36.
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Britain's Max Whitlock celebrates with his coach after the men's pommel horse event
Image credit: AFP
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