Whitlock, who will retire after these Olympics, is approaching the Video games in a different way as he says he has shaken off the strain of expectation that was as soon as “overwhelming”.
Britain’s most profitable gymnast took an 18-month break from the game to take care of psychological well being struggles after the Tokyo Video games earlier than returning after deciding it could be “quitting”, fairly than “retiring”, if he ended his profession then.
“I really feel like I am virtually a refreshed model of myself, virtually a youthful model of myself,” he stated. “[One] that is form of excited to tackle challenges fairly than fearing the overwhelming expectations from these challenges.
“So again to the mindset I had after I was younger, earlier than the form of strain acquired to a degree the place typically I had the burden of the world on my shoulders.
“So I’ll give my greatest shot – and that is all I can do.”
Whereas Whitlock is probably the most skilled member of the workforce, Hepworth is a comparatively new face on the worldwide stage and has been chosen forward of his “idol” Tulloch, whom he beat to the rings title on the British Championships this yr.
Tulloch, 28, stated “devastated would not fairly reduce it” after lacking out on choice for a 3rd successive Video games.
“This one actually hurts,” he wrote in a social media submit. “I gave the whole lot to this cycle – each competitors, each medal. I’ve been part of each main worldwide competitors for the final 4 years, however I will not get to compete on the largest stage of all.
“Lacking out on Rio, Tokyo and now Paris is devastating. The psychological and bodily toll in immense.”
Hepworth made his mark this yr when he beat Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat to take ground gold on the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany, and Whitlock has referred to as him “one to look out for”.
