As someone who has never done gymnastics before, bar the odd PE lesson at school, the thought of having a one-on-one session with Max Whitlock, the most successful gymnast in British history, was daunting. Even doing a forward roll flooded my mind with the image of me snapping my neck.
"If you keep your chin on your chest you're safe every time," Max later reassured me after I joked with him about my fear of the simple move that most four-year-olds could master without a second thought.
© Getty ImagesA trip to Knightsbridge
On a rather unassuming Tuesday morning in London, I was being treated to a gymnastics session with a six-time Olympic medallist at the Bvlgari Hotel in Knightsbridge with Samsung. After being kitted out with a new phone to film the session alongside a watch to record my workout, I was somewhat ready to go.
We started off with a few stretches to make sure we were warmed up before heading into a core workout, after which I quickly realised I was slightly out of my depth. Heading into the session I was worried about embarrassing myself in front of an elite athlete, and whilst I was nervously laughing most of the way through - Max was always an incredibly patient and supportive teacher.
Max took me slowly through the stages towards a perfect handstand. Bunny hops came first, working on controlling my balance throughout the movement. Next up we added a plyo box, planting my legs firmly on the foam crate where I stretched out into a pike position that I'm sure Tom Daley would (hopefully) be proud of.
'I had to be selfish'
As the sessions progressed, so did the conversation with Max. Whilst we had dedicated interview time once the gymnastics crash course was completed, an hour-long one-on-one class would have been awkward without a conversation. From chatting about his time in the Olympic Village to the mental preparation you need before heading into huge competitions, Max wasn't afraid to get candid and open up about the sacrifices that sometimes had to be made.
"There was a period of time before the Tokyo Olympics where my wife literally thought I was going to break up with her. I am the most unselfish person. It was a really strange time. I felt like I had to fully lock in and be a little bit selfish. I hate to say it but I'm just being honest, I think I had to be selfish to make sure I was ready to go into Tokyo."
Handstand extraordinaire
© Getty ImagesAs we headed into the final exercises before I attempted a handstand, I'm not ashamed to say that my core and legs were burning from the effort. Naturally, you have a leading leg when you are about to go into a handstand, which in my case was my right one, and I was starting to get a little worried that it was feeling stiff from the exertion.
But when Max checked with me about my willingness to see this session through, I knew I couldn't back down. "Just keep your arms nice and strong - I'll help keep your legs together." Max advised.
Whilst I was unable to do the move without Max supporting me in the air just in case, I rather bravely attempted four times to get the perfect balance point for a super straight handstand that I think still looks rather cool on camera regardless. After a cool down where I felt immensely proud of myself, we then headed upstairs for a more in-depth conversation about his career.
Back for more
© Getty ImagesMax Whitlock had initially retired after the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, having collected over 30 medals in his career across the Commonwealth Games, European and World Championships and Olympic Games. But he felt the urge to come back, announcing in November 2025 that he was aiming to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"I felt like I had more in the tank. Coming fourth in Paris, being the only Olympics I hadn't meddled in in my journey - it almost stung a little bit too much."
© PA Images via Getty Images"It's been tough building back in. I'll be really honest with you, from the moment I've been back I've had aches and pains and injuries one after the other - so it's been a battle coming back."
Max already has an incredible legacy in gymnastics. He was already Team GB's most successful Olympic gymnast ahead of his arrival into the Japanese capital in 2021, but at the games he then went on to successfully defend his pommel horse title.
"I love doing what I do and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunities and the results I've got. The most amazing thing is when parents tell me that their son or daughter specifically started gymnastics because they watched me. That figurehead role that you almost naturally fall into feels very surreal but it's something that I take seriously."
All eyes on LA
At age 33, Max is 10 years over peak age for a gymnast and he notes that the support from the data he can track via his Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 aids in his training.
"Recovery has never been more important. I get a lot off of feeling, but then to be able to have data backing it up to give you confidence helps. Just staying on track right now is really important."
Looking back on my private gymnastics session with Britain's most successful gymnast, I feel so lucky to have experienced such a unique opportunity and reinvigorated to get back into training - which might perhaps include a little bit of handstand practice.
