GYMNAST Max Whitlock hopes his hardest ever pommel horse routine can secure him more success in the European Championships this week.

The double Olympic bronze medalist has won gold at the last two Europeans.

And the 21-year-old is now gunning for more glory in Sofia.

“I’ve got some new moves I’m going to be trying out on the pommel and it’s taken my difficulty rating up to 7.4 which is the highest I’ve ever had,” said Whitlock.

“I’ve been trying it out in training and it’s been going OK, so hopefully it will in competition as well because it’s another important competition for me.

“I obviously want to help the team do well in that competition and I also want to make as many finals as I can individually and hopefully win a medal.”

Whitlock, who trains at Basildon’s South Essex Gymnastics Club, won team gold at the 2012 Europeans and came out on top on the floor a year later.

He also took silver in the all-round event and bronze on the pommel.