MAX Whitlock may just have won two Olympic gold medals but he still feels his best is yet to come.

The Basildon based 23-year-old triumphed on the floor and on the pommel in Rio.

But Whitlock is certain he can still improve in both events.

“I still feel I can improve on my floor and my pommel,” said Whitlock.

“It’s always been my dream to get my own move on the pommel horse and that will take a long time.

“And on the floor my start score can improve loads.

“I can get back in the gym next year and I know what kind of things I want to learn and it will be a massive, massive focus on those two pieces.

“I always feel motivated after a major championships and I’ve never been more so now.”

Whitlock – who also won a bronze medal in the all around final – is due back in Basildon next week.

And he hopes his success will lead to even more youngsters taking up gymnastics.

“A massive part of what we do is to try to inspire people to get involved in our sport,” said Whitlock.

“After London 2012 it went crazy and hopefully it can do the same after this one.

“Our waiting list at the club is just incredible and for people to look up to me is amazing.

Whitlock, himself, has always looked up to Japanese superstar Kohei Uchimora.

And it was being acknowledged by the seven time world champion and three time Olympic gold medallist which made Whitlock realise the magnitude of his success in Rio.

“It was the first time he came up to me and shook my hand,” said Whitlock.

“It feels a bit surreal and crazy.

“You think about people like Mo Farah winning two gold medals and when people introduce me as the double Olympic champion it doesn’t feel right.”

For the unassuming Whitlock his historic triumph - he also became the first British athlete to win two individual gold medals on the same day - was the culmination of a journey which began at the age of 11 when he shipped off to Slovenia.

The departure of his first coach Klemen Bedenik back to his native Slovenia left Whitlock, who was already showing significant promise in the junior ranks - in danger of drifting away, so he made the drastic decision to follow Bedenik and enrol in school in Maribor.

The Slovenian language lessons lasted less than three months before Whitlock realised the ambitious arrangement was not working and returned home to link up with his current coach Scott Hann at South Essex.