'Age is just a number': Merdinyan becomes oldest World Championship medallist

Armenia’s Benjamin Button of the pommel horse Harutyun Merdinyan believes his World Championship bronze at the age of 38 is proof that ‘age is just a number’.

Merdinyan became the oldest medal winner in the competition’s history courtesy of a superb performance in Saturday’s showpiece, scoring 14.733 to snatch the final podium spot having been the last of the eight finalists to mount.

It continues a remarkable year which also saw Merdinyan win European gold in Munich, six years after his first, and the veteran earmarked a focus on one event as key to his success.

“For me, age is just a number,” he said. “I feel good, so I can continue competing and I am proud that I can win a lot of medals for Armenia.

“For many years I did all six events, but right now I have a back issue so I’m only doing one event.”

The door was left ajar for Merdinyan by a string of early falls in the final, Loran de Munck and Ryosuke Doi seeing their hopes fade by coming off the apparatus.

Eventual gold medallist Rhys McClenaghan had no such troubles in his routine and recorded the only 15-plus score of the final, reigning champion Stephen Nedoroscik unable to keep pace with the Irishman.

Ahmad Abu Al Soud came closest to challenging before two storied competitors took to the stage, Merdinyan following hot on the heels of 36-year-old Croatian Filip Ude, who won Olympic silver in Beijing 14 years ago.

Ude ended up in eighth but Merdinyan rolled back the years with a clean routine which saw him edge Nariman Kurbanov out of the bronze medal position, Al Soud staying in second to earn Jordan’s first ever World Championship medal.

Merdinyan’s display is likely to inspire those he works with as he looks to nurture the next generation of Armenian gymnasts.

“I work as a coach with children, but in general gymnastics is my job and my hobby,” he said.

“I gave my whole life to gymnastics and I am very happy that I can still win medals.”

The World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 will be one of the largest international sporting events ever to be held in the city. Over 500 gymnasts from more than 70 countries will compete at the M&S Bank Arena from 29 October to 6 November 2022. Tickets are available at www.2022worldgymnastics.com/tickets.