S5 Ep6: Max Whitlock - "A lot of athletes look at me like I've got it all figured out, and I'm like nowhere near close to that"

Today’s guest is Max Whitlock, he is not just a Gymnast, he’s a father, a husband and a role model to the next generation…….Max is the most successful gymnast in British history, with 6 Olympic medals to his name in the all round team, floor and pommel horse. This conversation is one that may come as a bit of a shock to many. As the poster boy of not just British Gymnastics but Team GB, it appeared from the outside that Max Whitlock had it all sussed. However, Max has recently opened up about his own struggles with his mental health and he has pulled down the mask about his relationship with the sport. The pressure to always out-perform his very best and the pressure to win Gold in Tokyo and nothing less, was considered a failure.  Having taken a year out, we chat about the highs and lows of Olympic sport, the pressure, purpose and the importance of speaking out. From the outside, Max's decision could look like a quick fix, but in reality it's his chance to take the opportunity to put himself within a chance of achieving the impossible. We discuss life after sport, and the importance of speaking out about what that could look like, not just for him, but for any athlete. It's real, raw and it's relatable. Thank you Max Whitlock for your honesty. Aimee will be probing for answers from the full spectrum of routines; the early birds who have finely tuned Monday mornings, to the late risers who struggle to get up before 11am. How do elite athletes find the motivation to kick start their week come rain or shine? How do celebrities deliver no matter what the time of day? What knowledge can they pass on? Each episode drops on a Monday morning as a bitesize piece of content and weekly dose of motivation - right when you need it. Aimee will meet each of her guests for a walk and a chat and over the course of the mile she will find out how they cope on a Monday morning - their idiosyncrasies, breakfast routines, alarm noises - and how, when they need to, find the motivation to kick-on through the week. Sharing some of Britain's greatest athletes, entrepreneurs, doctors, authors and broadcasters ’ secrets on self-motivation, candid thoughts on what they struggle with and a sideways look at some of their more unusual morning habits. Head over to IG to watch the visuals of our episode and what we get up to on our Monday Mile. https://www.instagram.com/aimee_fuller/ Filmed by Jon Moy