Israeli gymnast Artem Dolgopyat added to his already distinguished career on Friday by winning the European floor exercise title at the European Championships in Croatia. He scored 14.466 points in the final to claim the continental gold, as reported both by i24NEWS and The Jewish Chronicle.
This marks Dolgopyat's third European gold in the discipline, following his victories in 2020 and 2022. The 29-year-old, who represents Maccabi Tel Aviv, is no stranger to the podium. He won Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020—only the second in Israel's history—and silver in Paris 2024. He has also accumulated a host of other achievements, including a World Championship gold in 2023 and silvers in 2017 and 2019, and four European runner-up finishes in 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024.
The Israel Gymnastics Federation chairman, Avi Sagi, lauded the victory. As quoted by both sources, Sagi said Dolgopyat "once again proves that he is made of the stuff of great champions," adding that it was "another great and moving moment for Israeli gymnastics" in the lead-up reported by i24. The federation chairman not only congratulated Dolgopyat personally in Zagreb, as The Jewish Chronicle detailed, but also emphasized his "extraordinary talent, determination and hard work."
The gold came after a challenging week, as The Jewish Chronicle's coverage highlighted. In addition to the floor exercise, Dolgopyat competed in the all-around event and helped Israel secure a 10th place finish as a team, earning qualification for the World Championships. According to the same report, Dolgopyat acknowledged the growing physical toll related to age and his committed schedule.
"I'm already at an age where the performances are harder for me, especially after competing in the all-around. Recovery is difficult, so my routine in the final was less good," he said, as quoted by The Jewish Chronicle. The article also cited him reflecting on facing younger rivals: "I'm 29 and I have to compete against younger rivals who do things I can't do anymore."
Despite those challenges, Dolgopyat expressed confidence that he continues to compete at the highest level. "I know I'm still at the top and I proved it again, otherwise I wouldn't be competing," he said, and added: "For me, hearing Hatikva again and again is the greatest thing there is." The Jewish Chronicle article also recalled that Dolgopyat immigrated to Israel from Ukraine as a child, a personal backstory contributing to his connection with the national anthem.
Amid the celebrations, stronger attention is set on upcoming goals. As The Jewish Chronicle reported, Dolgopyat has his sights immediately on the World Championships in Rotterdam in two months, despite admitting that recovery may be scarce. "We're already starting the only preparation," he said.
His longer-term ambition extends to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which would mark his third consecutive Olympics. Both Israel sources describe the stakes with eager anticipation: The Jewish Chronicle notes that "Israelis wait with bated breath."
Dolgopyat's victory had a significant resonance in the nation. The Jewish Chronicle noted that the Hebrew-language outlet Ynet celebrated the win on the front page of its sports section with the headline "The greatest in history," reflecting the scale of the accomplishment in Israeli sports history.