Rio Olympics 2016: Max Whitlock’s team-mate Louis Smith rubbishes claims he didn’t congratulate him on gold medal and denies calling his win ‘bulls***’
Team GB silver medallist appeared to be devastated after his team-mate knocked him off first spot to claim gold for himself
LOUIS SMITH has hit back at claims he refused to congratulate team-mate Max Whitlock on his double-gold Olympic success.
The Team GB silver medallist also disputed reports he called Whitlock's historic triumph "bulls***".
Viewers slammed Smith, 27, for 'unsportsmanlike' behaviour after Magnificent Max knocked him down to second place with his performance in the pommel horse final yesterday.
Whitlock, 23, even comforted second-placed Smith when the results were out.
But the Strictly Come Dancing star said: "Because it wasn't shown on camera doesn't mean I didn't show my respect. Ask Max yourself then apologise."
Smith was teary-eyed on the podium and could not hide a look of utter devastation.
"I received so many negative comments, about team selection saying I shouldn't even be in the team and then to have messed up in the team final and then to have had a week until now, I was dealing with a lot emotionally, mentally. It just means so much.
"The amount of pride I'm feeling right now - I've been speaking to my mum quite a lot, she's at home, she didn't come out. She's been worried sick and just to go through that . . . it means so much."