As the third day of the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships concluded, the men boasted their strongest selves on the mat. On the first day, the US men were positioned second, followed by Great Britain. Whereas, on the second day, the GB team stepped down from third to the fourth position with a 249.461. While the team looked convincing, there was one who stood out. The 30-year-old Olympian, also an avid family man, waved his victory flag. But the waving didn’t just surround his professional wins, but personal wins, too.

Max Whitlock, the three-time Olympic champion, celebrated a historic family moment ahead of the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Champion. Before the big event kicked off, the beautiful camaraderie pleased the netizens.

Gymnastics legend’s family update

It’s no surprise that the gymnastic kids will follow in their parents’ footsteps. Along similar lines, Max’s adorable daughter was up to something unpredictable, leaving her father amazed at the scene. Gymnastics Now had taken to their ‘X handle to share, “Max Whitlock?s family has set up camp next to pommel horse, where team GB will start tonight, and his daughter, Willow, is practicing saying, ?Good job, Daddy!???

After defending his pommel horse title, the Essex-based gymnast made his comeback after 18 months. While on a hiatus, his family and coach supported him throughout. Having mindfully taken the decision to sit out, Max made a stellar return this season.

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For a gymnast of such measure, the world serenaded his name as he stepped foot on the World Championships mat. Moreover, his return to the Olympic fold has a viable reason.

Max’s comeback insights

Whitlock, who practices with British teammates Courtney Tulloch and Pavel Karnejenko, said, “It was just casual coming back.” Not being awkward about the situation, the Olympian shed light on his homecoming feelings. He said, “It wasn’t like I was the stranger returning because I had obviously seen the guys during that time when I had the year off, which was wonderful.”

After Tokyo 2020, which was postponed to 2021, the gymnast from Essex experienced his first post-Olympic mental health struggles. Moreover, he faced difficulties in opening up to his family until his wife, Leah, stepped up for support. He further added, “I think it was important for me for that coming back. I just take it slow. I was almost in a fragile mindset… so just take it literally step by step, bit by bit.”?

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In the upcoming Paris Olympics, Whitlock has the opportunity of being the only gymnast in history, male or female, to have won four Olympic medals on one piece of apparatus. If the three-time Olympic medallist on pommel horse secures one in Paris, he can achieve this rare feat. With Willow cheering on her dad, the world will wait to see him walking away with that.