Max Whitlock considers return to all-around competition after Montreal success
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 09/10/17 5:17pm
Max Whitlock has refused to rule out a return to all-around competition after becoming the first British gymnast to retain a world title in Montreal on Saturday night.
Whitlock coveted his all-around bronze medal at last year's Rio Olympics but took the tough decision to focus solely on pommel and floor apparatus for the immediate future.
The 24-year-old's move paid off as he dominated the pommel competition in Canada, despite an attack of nerves and a mistake in floor qualifying which left him languishing in 47th place.
And despite previously indicating his future may lie in individual apparatus, Whitlock admitted watching the all-around final in Montreal could have caused a change of heart.
Whitlock said: "When I was sitting and watching the all-around final I did realise how much I missed it.
"I'm going to go and reflect on it and decide what is the best way to move forward. If I was to do all-around I'd have to have the same mind-set on six pieces, which is very tough.
"I'll take a bit of time off and have a look at what the best option is, but at the moment my options are open."
Whitlock won the pommel final with a score of 15.441, comfortably eclipsing his rivals, but believes he can increase his dominance with a number of additional moves including the top-secret 'Whitlock' which he is continuing to perfect.
Whitlock's coach Scott Hann, who master-minded his rise from his early teenage years to become a history-maker, echoed Whitlock's belief that a return to all-around competition could be an option.
Hann said: "We know the level is getting higher in the all-around, and Max is the best in the world on pommel.
"What we could do is go back and work really hard on all six apparatus, or we could look at what he's best at and try to perfect that. But we're keeping an open mind and we will see where we go."
