The Runna Podcast Max Whitlock OBE: The Secret Formula to His Olympic Success
Dec 19, 2025
Max Whitlock OBE, a British Olympic gold medal gymnast and LA 2028 hopeful, reveals his journey back from retirement. He discusses the mental pressures of Olympic success and how he regained joy in gymnastics. Max shares his new passion for running, detailing his impressive 5K PB attempt and the role of discipline in both sports. He highlights the importance of routine, family, and redefining success at 32, proving that growth continues beyond medals.
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How Gymnastics Hooked Him At Seven
- Max started gymnastics at seven after a friend invited him to try a class and instantly loved it.
- He describes gymnastics as play that kept him obsessed and learning for 24 years.
Keep Training Serious But Not All-Consuming
- Max kept performance fun and avoided training becoming overpoweringly serious.
- He credits staying in the middle between too relaxed and too intense for career longevity.
Two Golds In An Hour Changed Everything
- Max describes the shift in pressure after winning gold in Rio and then retaining it in Tokyo.
- He recalls winning two Rio golds in 90 minutes and how expectations changed afterward.