Luke Whitehouse grew up idolising Max Whitlock – now the pair are heading to Paris as part of the same Olympic team.
The 22-year-old from Halifax is one of three male gymnasts making his Olympic debut for Team GB this summer having burst on to the scene over the course of this cycle.
Whitehouse crosses the Channel as a back-to-back European floor champion, retaining his title in April after stepping in as an eleventh-hour replacement for Whitlock.
He beat reigning Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat in the process, the Israeli having to settle for silver, to mark himself out as one to watch at the main event.
“I think I’ve demonstrated compete under pressure,” said Whitehouse
“In the past I was a bit naïve and I could compete without any pressures or expectations. This year I was defending champion and I was there to be shot at. I certainly felt that pressure and I’m really pleased with how I coped and rose to the challenge.”
(Image: Courtesy of Luke Whitehouse)
Whitehouse has faced fierce competition to earn selection to the British squad. Giarnni Regini-Moran became a world champion on floor in 2022 but has had injury problems since while dual world and European medallists Courtney Tulloch and James Hall have been left out.
The Yorkshireman is now tasked with leading a new era for British gymnastics and his teammate Jake Jarman is among those set to earn household name status this summer.
Harry Hepworth is another debutant while Joe Fraser and Whitlock are the returning Olympians, with the latter looking to add to his six Olympic medals, three of which are golds.
“I first met him (Whitlock) when I was 13,” Whitehouse recalled. “I got to hold all his medals from the British Championships, which was pretty cool at that age.
“He has definitely been a role model for me. He’s always so professional with how he goes about his work and how he balances training with his family life.”
Whitehouse also had Nile Wilson to look up to for inspiration, having grown up sharing facilities with the Rio bronze medallist at Leeds Gymnastics Club.
A huge summer ahead for our @TeamSportsAid alumni @charliedobson99 and @lukebwhitehouse 🙌
— Pitching In (@PitchingIn_) July 16, 2024
We can't wait to watch them in action! @EntainGroup | @EntainFdn pic.twitter.com/shqQPUVNJP
A teenage Whitehouse would take part in training routines for Wilson’s popular YouTube channel and the 28-year-old will now be casting an eye over his former protégé as part of the Discovery+ punditry team this summer.
Whitehouse's rise has been supported by a partnership between SportsAid and Pitching In, a grassroots sport initiative established by Entain, owners of Ladbrokes and Coral.
The 24-year-old was among the annual 50-strong cohort of athletes in 2021 and joins fellow alumnus Charlie Dobson in Team GB’s Paris-bound squad this summer.
“The funding from Pitching In and SportsAid helped me a lot,” he said.
“It was a confidence boost for me and the workshops that were put on helped contribute to my success.”
Entain, owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, is proud to be championing the next generation of British sporting heroes by providing talented young athletes with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Visit entaingroup.com to find out more.
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