A Team GB Olympic hero is ‘set to star in I’m A Celebrity…’
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A Team GB Olympic hero is ‘set to star in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’.
Max Whitlock, 31, who is Britain’s most esteemed gymnast, retired after a final flip around the pommel horse at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But just when fans thought he would stop pushing his athletic limits, he is now reportedly set to push his abilities in a whole new way, according to The Sun.
The six-time medalist is thought to have been talking with ITV for some time about appearing on the show.
It is said to have been on his wish list for years.
Max Whitlock, 31, who is Britain’s most esteemed gymnast, retired after a final flip around the pommel horse at the 2024 Paris Olympics
A TV insider told the publication: ‘Max has met with the I’m A Celebrity bookers and talks are ongoing.
‘He is a huge fan of the show and has been keen to take part for years.
‘This is the first time ITV have invited him to meet and they think Max could be a brilliant contestant.’
They said his competitive nature will be good for Bushtucker trials and is ‘hopeful that this could be beginning of a thriving TV career’.
The report comes after he had to fight back tears in an emotional interview following his final gymnastic performance.
He was going for a third successive pommel horse Olympic gold before retiring after the Paris Games.
However, there was no fairytale ending, as he missed out on a medal and finished an agonising fourth place.
In an interview with the BBC following his final outing, Max became overcome with emotion when he was asked about his five-year-old daughter Willow watching him from the stands at the Bercy Arena.
But just when fans thought he would stop pushing his athletic limits, he is now reportedly set to push his abilities in a whole new way, according to The Sun
The six-time medalist is thought to have been talking with ITV for some time about appearing on the show. It is said to have been on his wish list for years
The report comes after he had to fight back tears in an emotional interview following his final gymnastic performance
Tears came to Max’s eyes when he was asked about his five-year-old daughter Willow
Whitlock came fourth in the pommel horse , failing to retain the golds he won in 2016 and 2020
The Team GB gymnast apologised before he briefly paused the interview to regain his composure. Once he had, he said: ‘It’s the proudest feeling.’
‘I’ve done this sport for 24 years and I’ve always said for a very long time that I want to have children young so that my child can watch me compete.’
I then all got too much for Whitlock again: ‘Sorry – for god’s sake,’ he said as he looked up to the sky with tears in his eyes.
Max went second in the final, scoring an impressive 15.200 as he looked set to take home a seventh Olympic medal.
But a mammoth total of 15.533 from Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan, as well as remarkable routines from Kazakhstan’s Nariman Kurbanov and USA gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, pushed him out of the medals.
Max was clearly disappointed with the result during the interview, but he was keen to look at the bigger picture of what he achieved during his time in the sport.
‘It is very raw at the moment,’ said Whitlock. ‘I would have loved for it to end in a better way here in Paris.
‘But I do not want anyone to look at the way I am feeling now and think that it is a reflection of my career, I am so proud standing here today.’
The 31-year-old was clearly disappointed when he realised he had not done enough for a medal
Whitlock (pictured at Tokyo 2020) retires from gymnastics as a three-time Olympic champion
Now that his highly successful career is at an end, Max is ready for the next phase of his life.
He added: ‘I feel very grateful to be a gymnast. I am very, very fortunate to have done a sport that I have loved from seven years old until now, 31 years old, it’s a long time.
‘One of the best comments is when I have inspired young children to get into gymnastics.
‘I get the comments all the time throughout here and the Olympic Games about someone getting their child into it because they have watched me, that’s one of the best feelings.
‘And now I am done with my competing career, I love the sport and I loved every minute, now I want to change gymnastics for the grassroots and hopefully I can do that, that’s my next mission.’
For the return of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! show hosts Ant and Dec are set to return for another year.
And X Factor judge and pop star Tulisa Controstavlos is also said to be in talks with show producers.
