Commonwealth Games: Max Whitlock withdraws after injuring hand in training

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Max Whitlock has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games after injuring his hand in training.

Whitlock came out of retirement last year to target a place at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, saying his career felt “unfinished” after missing out on a medal at the Paris Games two years ago.

However, the 33-year-old wrote on Instagram, external on Monday he is “incredibly disappointed” and had “no choice” but to pull out of the Games this summer after picking up the injury.

Whitlock added that despite doing everything possible to give himself the best chance of competing in Glasgow, he will not be able to recover in time.

The Commonwealth Games take place from 23 July until 2 August.

“Representing Team England has always meant a huge amount to me, and I had been working incredibly hard for the opportunity to compete and contribute to the team once again,” wrote Whitlock.

“Setbacks are part of sport and my focus now is on recovering properly, supporting the team and coming back stronger.”

When announcing his return to gymnastics in November, he said he had been out of the sport for a full year and was taking his comeback slowly.

He took part in the British Gymnastics Championship in Liverpool in March but fell on the parallel bars, tweaking his shoulder, and then failed to make the pommel horse final.

Whitlock, who won his three gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and Tokyo 2020 Games, has also claimed four Commonwealth Games golds during his career.

He won team, all-around and floor gold in Glasgow in 2014, plus another team title at the Gold Coast Games in 2018.

Whitlock is another high-profile athlete who will miss the Games in Scotland, after Australian five-time Olympic backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown pulled out with glandular fever last week.