Max Whitlock is under no illusions as to what it will take to repeat his European Artistic Gymnastics Championship success at the world equivalent in Antwerp next week.
The 20-year-old Olympic pommel horse bronze medallist was Britain’s star performer in Moscow back in April, claiming a full set of medals as five were garnered in total all from the men.
Whitlock, who was also part of the quintet that won Britain’s first Olympic men’s gymnastics team medal for a century at London 2012, opened up with silver in the all-around.
He then followed that up with gold on the floor and bronze on the pommel horse, won by Beijing 2008 Olympian Daniel Keatings while Sam Oldham claimed horizontal bar silver.
Whitlock is part of a six-strong British men’s team for the individual World Championships in Antwerp, including Keatings and Oldham as well as Kristian Thomas, Dan Purvis and Ashley Watson.
However, despite his trip to Belgium representing his first World Championships, Whitlock is aware of the fact that the global gathering will be a step up from the Europeans.
“My coach and I have been really focussed on our plans and my routines and everything that I want to do in the build up to these worlds,” said Whitlock.
“It is the first World Championships that I have qualified for and I am really happy to have made the all-around spot so I am looking forward to it.
“I hope I can repeat what I did at the Europeans, it will be a lot harder, the field at the World Championships is a lot stronger and a lot bigger.
“But if I can do anything like I did at the Europeans earlier this year then I will be really happy. I have made some upgrades and I have put a few new skills in.
“And at the moment I am just trying to consolidate them and make them as neat and as perfect as I can ready for the competition.
“But consistency is the key and hopefully I can go out there and perform on the day.”
© Sportsbeat 2013