BASILDON’S Max Whitlock has claimed two historic Olympic gold medals in the space of just 90 minutes in Rio tonight.

The 23-year-old – who trains at the South Essex Gymnastics Club – triumphed in the floor final before also securing first place on pommel.

And Whitlock was lost for words after becoming the first British gymnast to ever win an Olympic title.

“I don’t know how to sum up in words how I’m feeling, I’m just so so happy,” said Whitlock.

“I have completely outdone myself and Scott (Hann, his coach) and I can stand here feeling very proud.

“It’s just incredible.”

Whitlock was always expected to challenge in the pommel final but his success on the floor came as a huge surprise.

Whitlock scored 15.633 in his routine and then watched on as the favourites including Kenzo Shirai and Samuel Mikulak both made mistakes that left them out of medal contention.

And Whitlock admitted even he was surprised to have won.

"I never go into competition expecting to get a medal, I just go in to do my job,” he said.

“You train for hours and hours, years and years in the gym and it all comes down to this one minute so I’m really happy.

“The emotion really hit me out there when I realised what I had done.”

However, Whitlock was able to regain his composure to win a second gold medal on the pommel.

Whitlock scored 15.966 to edge team-mate Louis Smith into second.

And he was delighted to finish in first.

“I had to refocus after the first gold and I knew I had one more job to do,” said Whitlock.

“But now I can take both of them in at the same time and it feels brilliant.”

The two golds came after Whitlock had also become Team GB's first all-round men's gymnastics medallist in 108 years when finishing third in the individual all-around final earlier in the week.