BASILDON’S Max Whitlock has won Great Britain's first all-around gymnastics Olympics medal in 108 years by securing bronze in Rio tonight.

The 23-year-old - who trains at South Essex Gymnastics Club - produced a string of stunning performances to secure an historic top three finish.

And Whitlock was delighted to have worked his way onto the medal rostrum. 

“My coach and I have been working so hard over the past four years and it's great to have got a medal," said Whitlock.

"We stepped out of London 2012 and I wanted to prove myself as an all-rounder and I’ve done that. I feel I’ve completed that target now.

“Kohei [Uchimura, gold medal winner] has been my idol for a long time so I’m very proud for him and Oleg [Verniaiev, silver medal winner], I’ve been competing with him for years.

"He’s been producing huge scores in the last few years and I’m very honoured to come third to those two.

“That Team GB have won more medals today makes it even better.

"We are very strong, we’re such a big team, and hopefully we can go back to the village and everyone be proud of our achievements today.”

Whitlock, who won bronze in both the team event and pommel horse at London 2012, put in top-five performances on four of the six rotations, and laying had the best pommel routine of the competition.

Walter Tysal was the last British man to medal in the event 108 years ago at London 1908.