Max Whitlock is already a nine-time Commonwealth Games medallist and after making history at the World Gymnastics Championships this week, he believes his ability to handle the pressure of elite competition bodes well.

Whitlock edged out countryman Louis Smith in the pommel horse final on Saturday to become Great Britain’s first male gymnastics champion in the 112-year history of the event.

The 22-year-old leaves Glasgow with three medals to his name, having also earned himself an individual floor silver and won team silver.

It looked like there might be more medals for Whitlock on Friday but a slip on the high bar was crucial in his quest for a second World Championship individual all-around medal.

Whitlock, who won team, all-around and floor gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games which were also in Glasgow, had glandular fever in the spring but has bounced back in style.

In the pommel horse final at the Worlds, Smith – himself a four-time Commonwealth Games medallist for England – racked up a stunning 16.033 to take the lead.

But Whitlock matched the 26-year-old blow for blow with a perfect dismount earning him 16.133 and victory by just 0.100.

And he admits his triumph still hasn’t really sunk in.

"That was brilliant, to be honest I can't really believe it," said Whitlock. "The word to use to describe this week is historic.

"Louis couldn't be happier for me, and that’s just what our sport is like, and what our team is like in particular - we support each other and we want everyone to do the best they possibly can.

"Louis has done a brilliant job this week too, so everyone is over the moon. It’s been a lot of hard work, and the journey to this competition has been very long.

"To pull it off under that pressure makes me very happy, although I wasn't watching Louis as I was in the back gym warming up.

"I didn’t even hear the crowd as it is a long walk over from there, but I knew Louis would do his job - as he is a persistent and very talented pommel worker - and I just had to focus on mine.

"It wasn’t until I stepped off the podium at the end of my routine that I even saw his score, and I knew it was going to be close so it was up to the judges from then on."

For Smith, silver was his fourth world pommel medal although he is still yet to win gold.

Meanwhile, other Commonwealth Games stars also produced promising performances as Ruby Harrold finished seventh on the uneven bars, Nile Wilson came eighth on the parallel bars while Claudia Fragapane ended seventh on the floor.

© Sportsbeat 2015