Max Whitlock: Three-time Olympic champion explains gymnastics retirement U-turn as he targets Los Angeles 2028

Three-time Olympic champion Max Whitlock says he's "massively fired up" and did not need to persuade his family to come out of retirement.

Whitlock retired from gymnastics following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris but made a shock return at the end of last year and is hoping to earn a place in the Team GB squad for Los Angeles 2028.

The Briton will be 35 years old at the next Olympics in LA and says he wants to take his main disciple, the pommel horse, "further than I've ever pushed it".

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"It's incredible to be back. It feels amazing to be able to say that I'm a gymnast again, I'm an athlete," he told Sky Sports News.

"I've just competed my first international back. Some good bits, some but not so good bits, but loads to work on, so I'm massively fired up.

"We're gearing up towards Commonwealth Games and World Championships, so I'm back in the thick of it, and it's very exciting. We've got just over two years to LA, that's my end goal. And trust me, I will be done after LA, I will be finished!"

Whitlock: I didn't want any regrets

Whitlock burst onto the scene at London 2012 with bronze medals in the team and pommel horse events, before winning two golds in Rio 2016 on the floor and pommel horse.

He defended his pommel horse title at Tokyo 2020 and was a strong medal hopeful for Paris 2024, but finished fourth and failed to come away with a medal.

The 33-year-old admits missing out on a medal was "a lot tougher" than he expected and that his career "didn't finish in the right way".

"I couldn't fight the feeling that something was just constantly itching out of me and just almost thinking 'there's more I could do'," said Whitlock.

"Then I feel like, fast forward 20 years time, would I regret not coming back for two years and that final push to really squeeze everything I possibly can at sport?

"I still feel like my body can give more. I still feel like in my head I can do more physically, mentally. I want to prove that to myself and do everything I can."

He added: "I think that I'm very lucky to be in this position. There was zero persuasion. I think a lot of people, the people real close to me, saw that something was missing. Me saying, 'actually I'm coming back', saying that to my family, making a decision with them not only brings smiles to their faces.

"My wife is mega excited for me to be back. [My daughter] Willow is mega, mega excited for me and my whole family, my mum, dad, my brother, everyone's excited about it come out to the competitions again and watch me compete.

"I think they really kind of felt a bit of a gap when I said that I'm done."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Max Whitlock: Three-time Olympic champion explains gymnastics retirement U-turn as he targets Los Angeles 2028