Israelis Make History With Two Gymnasts in World Championship Floor Final

Israeli gymnasts Artem Dolgopyat and Noam Barkovitz will compete in the floor exercise final at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam on Saturday, marking the first time two Israelis have reached the final in the same event. Both athletes qualified for the final during the preliminary rounds, with Dolgopyat qualifying in third place with a score of 14.300 and Barkovitz, 18, qualifying in seventh place with 14.033.

This achievement comes after Dolgopyat and Barkovitz previously shared the podium this season at a World Cup event in Croatia, where Dolgopyat won gold and Barkovitz took bronze. They will now aim to replicate their success on the world stage against top international competitors.

Dolgopyat, the reigning European champion and Olympic silver medalist, is seeking another prestigious medal to add to his impressive resume. His past achievements include Olympic gold and silver, a World Championship gold and two silvers, and multiple European medals. Barkovitz, in his first senior season, is solidifying his international standing.

The competition in the final is expected to be fierce. Doha Arseni of Russia led the qualifiers with 14.700 points, followed by Olympic champion Carlos Yulo of the Philippines with 14.500. Other strong contenders include Richard Frederic of the United States, Jake Jarman of Great Britain, and Sharamkou Yahor of Belarus.

Notably, Israeli gymnasts were barred from participating in last year's World Championships in Indonesia due to the local government's decision to deny entry visas to the Israeli delegation. The upcoming final is less than two years before the Los Angeles 2024 Olympic Games.