I was more nervous proposing to my sweetheart, says gymnast Max Whitlock

Top gymnast Max, seen here promoting a new sofa range for DFS, proposed to his girlfriend in the Lake District
Dan Kennedy
David Churchill8 August 2016

British gymnastic star Max Whitlock says proposing to his childhood sweetheart was more nerve-racking than the Olympics.

The London 2012 double-bronze medallist popped the question in June after whisking his girlfriend of nine years, Leah Hickton, to the Lake District.

He said: “When I was asking I couldn’t even talk, the first time I’ve ever been nervous around Leah — I couldn’t get my words out. It was a weird feeling, it probably was more nerve-racking than being in an Olympic Games.”

Whitlock, from Basildon in Essex, said he wanted to propose to Hickton, a gymnastics coach, before the Olympics: “I wanted our wedding booked before we went to Rio and now it’s done.

Perfectly suited: Max Whitlock with his now fiancée Leah Hickton

“I’m very happy, I’ve been with Leah for nearly nine years, so she’s a massive part of my life already and a massive reason why I’m here today, she’s supported me so much.

“We’ve lived together for two years and she does everything for me when it comes round to competitions, so it’s quite tough on her, and on everyone, but they are the reason I’m here.”

Whitlock, who won the world championship on the pommel horse in Glasgow last year, hopes to become Team GB’s first gymnastic Olympic gold medallist after he and team-mate Louis Smith ranked first and second in qualification for the pommel final.

He also aims to at least match Britain’s bronze in London 2012 in tonight’s team all-round final.

He said gymnastics once had a stigma as a “girls only” discipline but that had changed after good results from men, including the bronze in London. He said: “There definitely used to be [a stigma], because it was dominated by women. What we’ve done with our results has put it on the map.”

Whitlock, a DFS ambassador who took part in a shoot for the firm’s new Britannia sofa range, said he felt more pressure about Rio than London, where he also won an individual bronze on the pommel.

He said: “No one expected a medal from me. But four years down the line, we’re expected to bring back results.”

DFS, official homeware partner for Team GB, has created a limited-edition Britannia sofa range especially for British House — Team GB’s base at the Games.

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