OLYMPIC gymnast Max Whitlock rubbed shoulders with royalty as he was made an MBE by the Queen.

The 24-year-old athlete, who trains at the South Essex Gymnastics Club, based at the Basildon Sporting Village, picked up his medal at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

He made history when he won gold on the floor at the Rio 2016 games and triumphed on the pommel horse less than two hours later.

His achievements won recognition from the Queen in her New Year’s honours list. Her Majesty revealed to Max that she is a fan of gymnastics.

Following the ceremony, he said: “Receiving my MBE was a real honor, for both myself and my family.

“After 2012 I set myself goals and targets that included becoming Britain’s first male world champion and Britain’s first ever Olympic gymnastic champion. To achieve my goals has been unreal. This award really is the icing on the cake and completes for me an amazing four years.”

“The Queen was really nice. She basically said she loved watching the gymnastics because the stuff that we do doesn’t seem possible.”

Scott Hann has coached Max for 11 years. He said: “The journey has been remarkable.

“It’s fantastic, it shows what he has been through and what he has achieved.

“It’s not just for him it’s for everyone who has been along on the journey and it’s excellent he is going to get the recognition he deserves. It’s fantastic for the club, and for Max to achieve this award.

“It has been a long journey that has taken us all over the world.”

The gymnast now has five Olympic medals, earning bronze in the all-around to add to bronze in both the team event and pommel horse at London 2012.