SOUTH Essex Gymnastics Club chairman Roy Short has spoken of his immense pride at seeing years of hard work from Max Whitlock and his coach Scott Hann come to fruition with a historic bronze medal at Rio 2016.

The nation was gripped as Whitlock put together six brilliant routines on live TV to take his place on the Olympic podium after a fiercely-contested men’s all-around final.

The 23-year-old from Basildon – accompanied by his club and Team GB coach Hann in the arena – scored 90.641 for third place to secure Britain’s first Olympic gymnastics all-around medal for 108 years.

And Short, who has watched SEGC Director of Coaching Hann mould Whitlock into a world-class performer during the club’s time at Cranes Farm Road and the Basildon Sporting Village, said: “I’m just so proud to be associated with Max and Scott and to do my little bit behind the scenes to help them be a success.

“I watched the final at home and I must have held my breath for the last half-an-hour of the competition!

“I sent Scott a text in the early hours of the morning and he said he was over the moon and told me I had played my part, which was a very nice thing for him to say.

“And I am so pleased for Scott because I know how worried he gets before these big competitions and you can see how much it means to him when the cameras catch shots of him in the background.

“But I told him he has done everything he possibly can for Max and all our gymnasts over the past four years, and for many years before that, and that he should enjoy this moment – because he’s earned it.”