Israeli Gymnast Artem Dolgopyat Recounts Battle With Fear After World Championship Bronze

Israeli Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat secured a bronze medal in the floor exercise at the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam on Saturday, October 24. This marks his fourth World Championship medal, but he revealed in an interview with Ynet journalist Nadav Tzintzper that the achievement was overshadowed by intense fear of failure. Dolgopyat admitted he was so anxious before the competition that he feared not qualifying and wished for the tournament to end quickly.

Dolgopyat's previous World Championship medals include silver in Montreal in 2017, silver in Stuttgart in 2019, and gold in Antwerp on October 7, 2023. He missed the previous championship due to a boycott by host Indonesia. In the Rotterdam final, Dolgopyat qualified third, behind Russia's Arseniy Dukhno and Filipino Olympic champion Carlos Yulo. However, both rivals made errors in the final, allowing Dolgopyat to secure a medal with a routine of 5.8 difficulty.

He drew parallels between his psychological struggles and those of American gymnast Simone Biles at the Tokyo Olympics, stating, "I had problems with my psychological state during preparation for the World Championships, just like Simone Biles at the Tokyo Olympics." Dolgopyat described the fear as a familiar childhood feeling that he usually overcomes by focusing during competition, but it resurfaced intensely in Rotterdam. "I was simply scared," he said, adding that the three-year gap since his last World Championship appearance and public expectations amplified his anxiety.

Dolgopyat, who works with a sports psychologist weekly, emphasized the importance of open communication with his team. He recalled a similar experience in 2022 after winning the European Championship, where he failed to reach the final of the subsequent World Championship. Despite winning bronze, Dolgopyat expressed regret over minor errors that cost him points but was heartened by the fact that two Israeli gymnasts reached the final, a rarity among top nations.

Looking ahead, Dolgopyat aims to increase his routine's difficulty to 6.0 for the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles, less than two years away. He acknowledges the challenge of combining increased difficulty with high-quality execution. The competitive season has concluded for Dolgopyat, who plans a break to rest and focus on his mental well-being to prevent the return of his fears.