MAX Whitlock was edged out of Commonwealth Games gold by Northern Ireland teenager Rhys McClenaghan in Coomera on Saturday.

The reigning Olympic champion, who is based in Basildon, matched McClenaghan's score of 15.1 but the Antrim 18-year-old took the title because his routine had a greater execution level.

It was Northern Ireland's first medal of the Games, while silver was the second blow within an hour for Whitlock, who had previously made a series of mistakes in his floor routine to finish sixth.

Whitlock said: "You can't have a perfect competition every time and I'm going to go away and learn so much.

"The competitions you go and do amazingly, you just go with the flow and don't learn much.

"But this one hopefully I'll learn a lot and get some fire back in me because maybe that is what's needed.

"This will push me a bit more and give me a bit more fire that I need and I'm looking forward to getting back.

"There are three majors this year and this is just the first one."

McClenaghan said: "The feeling is just relief and I felt a surge of emotion through my body.

"I was so nervous watching Max and waiting for his score and I felt a bit stunned when I saw that score.

"Max is one of the best gymnasts ever and I remember watching him at the 2010 Commonwealth Games when I was 10 years old.

"To be competing against him is incredible but I'm up there with him now and I've even overtaken him."