MAX ANTONY WHITLOCK (1993- ) GYMNAST Whitlock Family Association members have had their eye on Max Whitlock since at least 2009 when Eric Whitlock of Wales sent in the first media references to the potential this athlete was showing. Max was born January 13, 1993 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and started gymnastics at age seven. In 2003 at age ten Max was competing and won a 1st overall and 1st on 6 pieces at the Pegasus open that year in Kent. In 2009 he was chosen to be part of the Great Britain artistic gymnastic team and went to Sydney, Australia for the 5th Australian Youth Olympic Festival. These sixteen year olds shocked the gymnastic world by winning gold, silver and bronze in the team all round and then gold in three individual categories including Max Whitlock on the pommel horse. In 2010 the Commonwealth Games were held in Delhi, India and Max Whitlock was there winning silvers in the team all round and pommel horse and a bronze in horizontal bar. At the London Prepares Olympic test event for the 2012 London Olympic Games Max aced the event giving six clean routines in all six events getting his highest score on the pommel horse and helping his team qualify for the Games. At the 2012 Games he brought home two bronze medals, one for the team and one for pommel horse. In 2015 Max was at the 2105 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow and he won gold on the pommel horse becoming the first British man to ever win a World Championship gold medal. The stage was set for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Max continued to train and using social media he streamed some his workouts for his growing number of fans. In Jul 2016 he qualified for the British Olympic team. Max’s first medal at the 2016 Games was a bronze in the all round event and then on day 9 Max wowed the world besting Japan’s Kenzo Shirai on the floor event for the gold and then two hours later winning gold on the pommel horse beating his teammate Louis Smith. Max’s parents Brian & Madeleine Whitlock flew from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire to Rio and were in the stands cheering on their son. The last time the British had won two gold medals in a single day was in 1932 at the Los Angeles Olympics when Hugh “Jumbo” Edwards won two rowing golds, the coxless pairs and the fours within an hour. Max was also given the honour of being first off the plane with the British team arrived back in London for their hero’s welcome home. Max was met by his fiancé Leah Hickton. There were engaged last June and plans for their wedding were put on hold until after the Rio games. We will be following this young man as he enjoys his celebrity status and hopefully we will uncover details showing how Max and his father Brian K. Whitlock fit into the Whitlock clan..