Rhys McClenaghan says there is still work to do after his qualifying session for the Commonwealth Games pommel horse final, but the early signs from his return suggest he is moving in the right direction. The gymnast booked his place in Monday's final while also making clear that he believes a better routine is still there.
The performance represented a clear step forward from the scores he posted during his comeback earlier this year. His mark in qualifying was comfortably higher than the 13.466 and 13.900 he recorded at World Cup events in Azerbaijan and Antalya, underlining the progress he has made since returning to competition.
That improvement helps explain the idea of a "McClenaghan 2.0" being on track. Even with his own assessment that there is room for improvement, the numbers point to growing sharpness and better execution as he builds back into major events.
With the qualifying round behind him, attention now turns to the Commonwealth Games pommel horse final on Monday. McClenaghan appears to be heading there with momentum, encouraged by a stronger display but still chasing a cleaner performance when it matters most.
