UNTAPPED Olympic Gymnast Breaks Down Insane Training Routines & How to Develop Functional Strength
Mar 9, 2026
Max Whitlock, British Olympic pommel horse champion, gives a quick peek into his training and mindset. He walks through bodyweight conditioning, inventing a new pommel skill inspired by breakdancing, and how he practices risky moves. He discusses managing perfection, aging and recovery, deliberate discomfort in training, and finding purpose after major wins.
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Use Difficulty To Make Execution The Decider
- Focus on pushing your own difficulty so you only need to execute your routine perfectly to win.
- Max avoids watching competitors and leans into higher difficulty to make his performance the deciding factor.
Creating The Whitlock From Breakdance Air Flares
- Max worked to create a unique pommel skill called the Whitlock that would be the first flighted element on pommel horse.
- He learned air flare moves from breakdancing YouTube and practiced repeatedly until it could potentially be transferred to pommels.
Obsessive Practice Led To Groin Injury
- Max overtrained a breakdance-like skill for pommel horse until his groin was so sore he could barely walk.
- He persisted because the skill excited him, but acknowledged the physical toll of obsessive practice.