Max Whitlock was unveiled yesterday as an official ambassador for the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, a new event bringing together aquatics, cycling, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon and a new golf team championship under one banner.

Having won the pommel horse title at the World Championships in the city two years ago and three Commonwealth Games titles in 2014, he is looking forward to making it a hat-trick of triumphs next year.

“I’m so happy to be a part of this and I can’t wait for it to come around,” the 24-year-old said. “It feels strange being back in Glasgow because this is a place where I’ve had some amazing experiences.

“They were a really big part of my journey and this is a place I thoroughly enjoy competing.

“They are such good memories and hopefully as we move forward with the same audience I can do it again.

“This is a new competition so hopefully we’ll have even more of an atmosphere. There are six different sports involved so the atmosphere surrounding every athlete is going to be crazy.

“I think it’s going to have that mini-Olympics feel, which is great. It brings the country together and the crowds help us home athletes so much more.

“It would be very good if I could make it a hat-trick of wins in Glasgow. I’ve got a few competitions along the way first but next year is a big year and this event, smack bang in the middle of it, will be brilliant.”

Whitlock is ready to return to action after taking a six-month break to “upgrade” his routines ahead of October’s World Championships in Montreal, where he will be looking to defend his pommel horse title.

Whitlock, who has been tipped to be on the list of contestants when the line-up for Strictly Come Dancing is revealed next month, is wanting to cement the legacy he started with his floor and pommel horse gold triumphs at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil by repeating the feat in Tokyo 2020.

“I’ve seen those Strictly rumours but for me it’s mainly about gymnastics,” he said. “I’m focusing on getting those upgrades to my routines in and doing what I need to do.

“My target was to go and get those titles and I feel so proud to have done that. If you look at other athletes, the legends are the ones who have stayed in the sport and retained titles because that job is so, so hard. So that’s my next massive target.”