DOUBLE Olympic champion Max Whitlock showed off his skills to the nation in the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year award evening.

Gymnast Whitlock - who lives and trains in Basildon - finished seventh in the main award of the night which was won by tennis star Andy Murray.

But Whitlock was still able to show off his skills, as he held a customary planche live on stage.

And the 23-year-old was delighted to be part of the ceremony which was shown live on BBC One on Sunday evening.

“It was amazing to be at the awards and I was honoured to be there, let alone make the shortlist,” said Whitlock who was also interviewed live on stage by presenter Gabby Logan.

“It was the perfect way to end an amazing 2016.”

Whitlock memorably won two gold medals at the Rio Olympics as he won both the floor and pommel horse finals having previously finished third in the all-around final.

But Whitlock has still not fully recovered from the glandular fever he suffered in 2015.

“Ever since then I haven’t been able to train with the same intensity or the same amount of hours that I did beforehand, and that might continue,” said Whitlock.

“I am taking the longest break of my career at the moment so I am hoping to benefit from that and I will be reducing the amount of hours I spend in the gym for the whole of next four-year cycle.

“I still want to learn new stuff but I’ve learned the bulk of things I need so hopefully it won’t affect me too much.

“I don’t want to fade out now - I want to do the 2020 Olympics and maybe another after that as well.”

Whitlock - who received 32,858 votes in the awards - has the European and World Championships next year.