One of the competitors at the event tested positive for the coronavirus and the athletes were forced to wait for all protocols to be carried out.

McClenaghan took to the pommel horse after the delay but slipped towards the end of his routine, which ended hopes of an appearance in the final.

The Antrim native had previously missed out on a medal at Tokyo 2020 earlier this summer due to a mistake.

Speaking about Rhys McClenaghan’s performance in today’s men’s qualifiers, Gymnastics Ireland CEO Mr Ciaran Gallagher said: “It was a difficult subdivision for Rhys McClenaghan out in Japan this morning, and indeed for all the other gymnasts in his sub as a Covid-19 related issue led to over an hour delay to the competition.

“The tight covid protocols and response to any covid related matter from the Japanese gov/organisers are of course completely understandable however of course this kind of impact mid-event is felt by all the gymnasts.

“As ever, Rhys pushed through his routine in difficult circumstances and was unlucky not to final on this occasion.

“We all know what he is capable of and are all incredibly proud to have him fly the flag so well for Ireland/Gymnastics Ireland.

“With this being the last major event in 2021 Rhys, our National Coach Luke and Performance & Technical Manager Sally will now refocus on 2022 as the campaign towards Paris 2024 begins next year.”

Ireland still have skin in the game at the World Championships in Japan as Emma Slevin is preparing to compete in the Women’s All-Around final.

The final will take place on Thursday morning from 9:55 am and will be available to watch live on the RTÉ Player.

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It was a difficult day for the Irishman and for many today in the Gymnastic Arena in Kitakyushu. Rhys McClenaghan had to wait a long period before he got his chance to take to the pommel horse.

One of the other competitors at the event had tested positive for Covid-19 that morning and subsequently all equipment in the Arena.

This was the 22-year-old’s chance to make up for an unfortunate mistake that led to him missing out on a medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

When McClenaghan finally took to the pommel horse, he started well. He got through his tough routine swiftly using his good physical strength to control himself.

Unfortunately, the Irishman slipped towards the end of his routine and that would prove very costly this morning. He scored 13.766 which would not be enough to reach the final stage.

McClenaghan took to Twitter to share his disappointment and frustration:

“I’m sad I trained until this point just to have the chalk wiped off the equipment and been told to wait 1 hour 30 mins before I competed due to a competitor in the subdivision before testing positive for Covid.

“Time to go home and just hope there’s not another Worlds like this one.”

This ends a very disappointing year for the Antrim man. Still only 22, he will have plenty of time to grow his trophy cabinet at the World Championships and Olympic Games.

In his last World’s two years ago in Stuttgart, he claimed a bronze medal.

That’s it guys, make it nice and slippery https://t.co/9vEV0BTVIN

— Rhys Mcclenaghan (@McClenaghanRhys) October 20, 2021

There is still a chance for Ireland in the World Championships

This is not the end for Irish hopes in Japan as Galway teenager Emma Slevin has reached the women’s All-Around final. That event will be shown live on RTE Player at 10:00 on Thursday 21st October in what could be a momentous day for Irish gymnastics.

Making history

Emma Slevin has become the first Irish woman to ever reach the Women’s All Around Finals at the Gymnastics World Championships

Emma scored qualifies 21st
11.466 Balance Beam
12.466 on Floor
12.700 Uneven Bars
13.533 on Vault
AA score of 50.165 pic.twitter.com/p0j9hbUaAg

— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) October 19, 2021

To read more in-depth and up-to-date Irish gymnastics and other sports news, click here.

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Gymnastics returns to Japan as the World Championships takes place in Kitakyushu. The competition will go from today, 18th until Sunday, 24th October.

Emma Slevin, who made history this year by becoming the first Irish gymnast to qualify for All-Around Finals in a European Gymnastics Championships, is up first.

Slevin is due to compete on Day 2 of the Women’s qualifiers on Tuesday 19th October at 11:15 Local time, 03:15 Irish time where she will compete on all four women’s apparatus.

The 18-year-old from Galway will want to push on from her recent strong form. She represented Ireland at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games as well as being the first Irish female gymnast to qualify for a senior all-around final at the European Championships this year.

Galway's Emma Slevin on being the first Irish female gymnast to reach an All-Around final at the @UEGymnastics #rtesport pic.twitter.com/NKWLmsKHYJ

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 23, 2021

Rhys McClenaghan who also made history for Ireland this year by becoming the first Irish gymnast to compete at an Olympic final will compete at the qualifiers on Pommel Horse on Wednesday 20th October at 15:10 local time, 07:10 Irish time.

This will be a chance for the 22-year-old Antrim man will be looking for silverware after his heartbreak this summer. The gymnast was set for at least a silver in Tokyo until he made a fall from the pommel horse.

A good podium Training out here at my 4th World Championships. I compete on Wednesday 20th, and feel very ready pic.twitter.com/yLOa42QdbW

— Rhys Mcclenaghan (@McClenaghanRhys) October 17, 2021

The finals are taking place on:

Thursday 21st Oct: Women’s All-Around final – from 18:00 local time (10:30 Irish time)

Saturday 23rd Oct: Pommel Horse Final at 18:00 local time (10:00 Irish time)

To see live scores and to follow how the two Irish gymnasts progress, click this link.

To read more in-depth and up-to-date Irish and international sports news, click here.

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It was a tense and thrilling final day in the Men’s Individual Stroke Play at Kasumigaseki Country Club today, the County Down golfer finished in a tie for 4^th after a thrilling seven-way playoff for the bronze medal.

Having carded a final round 67, 4-under par, McIlroy joined the 7-way playoff for bronze. Open champion Collin Morikawa (USA), CT Pan (Chinese Taipei), Mito Pereira (Chile), Sebastián Munoz (Columbia), Paul Casey (GB) and Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) all finished on 15-under par with McIlroy.

McIlroy made a 10-foot putt on the first play-off hole to progress while Matsuyama and Casey bowed out. On the next, all 5 remaining players made par. Morikawa and CT Pan birdied the third play-off hole to knock McIlroy, Pereira and Munoz out.

McIlroy determined to make Paris Olympics

Despite his disappointment at not winning a medal, McIlroy said of his first Olympic experience:

“It makes me even more determined going to Paris and trying to pick one up. It’s disappointing going away without any hardware. I’ve been saying all day I’ve never tried so hard in my life to finish third!

“It’s been a great experience. Today was a great day to be up there in contention for a medal. Certainly it had a different feeling to it than I expected but as I said, I’m already looking forward to 3 years’ time and hopefully go at least one better, if not three better.”

Offaly’s Shane Lowry had to settle for a tie for 22^nd as his final day saw him stall, shooting a level par 71. A bogey on the par 3 4^th hole, followed by a double-bogey on the 8^th put an end to his medal chances. Lowry birdied 3 of his final 4 holes to secure the top 25 spot.

Xander Schauffele held his overnight lead to secure the Gold Medal for USA, while Rory Sabbatini (Slovakia) fired a superb final round 61 to take Silver.

Gymnastics history maker Rhys McClenaghan

Rhys McClenaghan became the first Irish gymnast to reach an Olympic final. McClenaghan finished in 7^th place in the Men’s Pommel Horse final with a score of 13.100.

McClenaghan was second last to take to the pommel following a host of other impressive performances across the board. An unfortunate error early on though, saw him catch his finger under the handle of the pommel which resulted in a fall from the horse.

He regained his composure quickly though and completed his routine in magnificent style, with a clean dismount, but knew that it was not enough for a podium finish. His final score of 13.100 was a combination of a 6.400 difficulty score and an execution score of 6.700.

“I was disappointed with my performance today,” he commented. “It could have gone a lot better of course, just that one finger got caught under the handle. That one finger got caught, and that’s the finest of margins in gymnastics, where that one finger placement wrong can throw you off course. It’s the beauty of the sport as well the fact that it makes it so exciting. I’m excited to get back out there and just be better than ever.”

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Following his incredible performance on the Pommel Horse earlier today, McClenaghan had a long wait for the completion of the three subdivisions to receive the exciting news.

McClenaghan sat comfortably in 1^st place throughout the first and second subdivision with the hopes of qualification set firmly in his sight.

After the day’s competition, McClenaghan finished in joint 2^nd place alongside Kohei Kameyama of Japan, on a score of 15.266.

Gymnasts are judged on a combination of Difficulty (D) & Execution (E) for their performance and both gymnasts were awarded the same score as Taiwan’s Chih Kai Lee in 1^st place.

Lee was declared the winner by achieving a higher execution mark. He was awarded 6.400 for Difficulty (D) and 8.866 for Execution (E). He beat both McClenaghan’s and Kameyama’s Execution (E) mark of 8.766. The runners-up were awarded 6.500 for Difficulty (D).

“I am so proud to be the first Irish gymnast to make an Olympic final,”McClenaghan stated. “I am looking forward to going out and representing Team Ireland once again.”

Meanwhile, the Irish women’s hockey team beat South Africa 2-0 in their Olympic opener today. Read the report here.

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