Max Whitlock: ‘Scott whacked me in the leg and said: “You’re the Olympic champion”’

Six-time Olympic medallist, who missed a bronze in Paris by 0.1 points in his last event before retirement, reflects on friendships, family, teamwork and achievementMax Whitlock was warming up for his pommel horse final at the Paris Olympics when his South Korean rival Hur Woong approached him and translated a message into his phone. “It said he’s been watching me for over 10 years and he’s learned a lot from me,” says the 31-year-old. “It’s a surreal feeling