Commonwealth Games: Luke Whitehouse on 'right path' after picking up third medal in Glasgow

LUKE WHITEHOUSE thought he had struck Commonwealth Games gold for the second time – but a razor-thin judges’ decision left him with silver.

The Halifax ace missed out on victory in the men’s vault final by just 0.017 points to Canada’s Felix Dolci.

NOT QUITE: Halifax's Luke Whitehouse shows his delight with his his routine in the Men's Vault Final on day five of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - but he had to settle for silver. Picture: Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images

placeholder image — NOT QUITE: Halifax's Luke Whitehouse shows his delight with his his routine in the Men's Vault Final on day five of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - but he had to settle for silver. Picture: Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images

The 23-year-old leaves Glasgow with three medals after bagging gold in the floor final on Monday steering England to silver in the team event on Friday.

“It was a close final. I did think I got it, and I think Felix thought I got it as well,” he said.

PROUD: Luke Whitehouse celebrates winning silver in the Men's Vault final in Glasgow. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA.

“But once you’ve done your moves, it’s over to the judges.

“You’ve done your job, and it’s up to them to decide who they think has won.

“Going into the second vault, I was just thinking about what I needed to do to try to get the gold.

“On my first vault, I was looking to land on my feet, to be fair. I took off in quite a tough position, so it wasn’t exactly the answer I wanted.

Leeds-based Elliot Vernon - representing Wales during the Men's Parallel Bars final in Glasgow. Picture: Jane Barlow.

“I just needed to stay on my feet, and then the score was slightly lower than I expected.

“So I knew I needed to go into the second vault and try to stick it. I gave it everything, and it was so close.”

Vault medals are decided by the average of two attempts, leaving little room for error.

Dolci, who has now won three golds at these Games, scored an impressive 13.900 with his first vault but a more modest 13.633 with his second.

Whitehouse, whose strongest apparatus is floor rather than vault, gave himself a chance with 13.766 on his opening effort but could not quite find enough on his second attempt.

After an emotional Games that included seeing team-mate Gabriel Langton suffer a serious fall during the team final, Whitehouse is now looking forward to a break.

Three medals from his first Commonwealth Games have only strengthened Whitehouse's belief that he belongs among the world's best as he builds towards October's World Championships in Rotterdam.

“Every competition and every major event that I can come to and win medals just reminds me and cements the fact that I do belong here and that I can challenge for medals,” he said.

“It’s a big confidence boost and shows that I’m on the right path.

“I think I just need to enjoy it and let it sink in. I don’t think it’s really something that has fully hit me yet – I’ve won three medals at a Commonwealth Games.

“I’ll let it sink in and then refocus on what’s coming later in the year, with the World Championships. We’ve got selection events for that, so that’s the next focus.”

In the parallel bars final, there was only disappointment for Leeds Gymnastics Club’s Elliot Vernon.

Representing his native Wales, the 19-year-old had delivered a near-perfect routine, only for a poor dismount to cost him as he finished seventh overall, the gold medal going to Australia’s Jesse Moore.

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