Rio Olympics 2016: Max Whitlock wins second gold medal in under two hours by clinching pommel horse title
MAX WHITLOCK scooped an incredible two gold gymnastics medals in under two hours at the Olympics - beating tearful fellow Brit Louis Smith into pommel silver.
Whitlock clinched a shock gold in the floor event earlier this evening before climbing back on the horse and doing the business in his favourite event.
It took Whitlock's Rio medal tally to three, having bagged bronze in the all-round event on Wednesday.
Smith went fifth and took the lead with a score of 15.833.
But Whitlock then came along and beat him with the penultimate attempt, taking gold with 15.966.
It meant the pair could enjoy the national anthem together on the podium, with Smith bursting into tears of pride when he received his medal.
Whitlock said: "I really can't put it into words. I've completely outdone myself - it's incredible.
Related stories
"The floor gold was a surprise. I go in to do my job. For hours and hours in the gym, years and years, and you get about one minute to show what you've been working on.
"To do it at the Olympics today, I just don't know what to say. I'm so, so happy.
"Hopefully this will do a lot for gymnastics, making history for Team GB and hopefully me and Lewis can spur the youngsters on."
An emotional Smith added: "It's just incredible. So many different emotions and I would like to have got a gold but to be here is just an incredible achievement in itself.
"I received so much negative comments when the team selection was made and that I shouldn't be in the team.
"To have messed up in the team final and a week until now, I was dealing with a lot emotionally and mentally.
"To come out and do that routine means so much.
"The amount of pride I'm feeling right now, because I've been speaking to my mum at home a lot, she's been worried sick.
"To go through that under that much pressure it means so much.
"I don't know if this is going to by my last Olympics but doing that routine, I'm so happy."
American Alexander Naddour picked up bronze with 15.700.