Israeli Gymnast Artem Dolgopyat Returns Home with Bronze Medal

Israeli gymnast Artem Dolgopyat, a bronze medalist in the floor exercise at the World Championships in Rotterdam, returned to Israel early Tuesday morning. He arrived with fellow gymnast Noam Barkovitz and the professional team led by national coach Sergei Weissburg after a demanding week at the championships in the Netherlands. Dolgopyat secured the bronze medal, marking another achievement for one of Israel's top athletes.

Dolgopyat expressed his feelings upon arrival, stating that "obstacles before every big competition" always make his victories more emotional. He emphasized the need for constant focus and hard work, noting, "I don't come to a competition knowing, 'Wow, now I'll win.' No, you have to work until the end, and for a second you can't lose focus."

Regarding the new AI judging system, Dolgopyat mentioned hearing about it but was unsure if it was an improvement. He noted that in their Fujitsu system, judges use a joystick, and he recalled an instance at the Paris Olympics where an element was not counted for a Filipino athlete.

Despite his satisfaction with the medal, Dolgopyat admitted he always believes he can do better. He reflected on his performance, saying, "I think I made some real mistakes like a child, and that eats at me a bit from the inside." However, he also acknowledged the pre-competition challenges and expressed excitement about still finishing with a medal.

Noam Barkovitz, 18, finished seventh in the floor exercise final at his first senior world championship. He described the experience as a valuable learning opportunity that has greatly motivated him for the future.