Israeli Gymnast Artur Dalaloyan Wins Third European Floor Exercise Title in Zagreb

Israeli gymnast Artur Dalaloyan from Maccabi Tel Aviv secured his third European Championship gold medal in the floor exercise on Friday at the competition in Zagreb, scoring 14.466 points in the final. Despite describing his performance as below his usual standard due to fatigue from competing in all apparatus during qualifications, Dalaloyan's score was enough to claim the top podium spot. At 29 years old, he acknowledged the challenge of competing against younger athletes and the difficulty of recovery after the all-around event, which he participated in to help Israel qualify as a team for the World Championships.

Dalaloyan's victory adds to an impressive career tally, including previous European floor titles in 2020 and 2022, and four runner-up finishes in 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024. He also boasts three World Championship floor medals: gold in 2023 and silver medals in 2017 and 2019. His Olympic achievements include a gold medal in Tokyo 2020 and a silver in Paris 2024. Reflecting on his win, Dalaloyan said, "I know I am still at the top and proved it again, otherwise I wouldn't be competing. For me, hearing 'Hatikvah' every time is the greatest thing."

Looking ahead, Dalaloyan is already preparing for the World Championships in Rotterdam in about two months, emphasizing the limited time for recovery and training. He highlighted the importance of the team qualification for the World Championships, which came at a personal cost, and expressed his goal to secure qualification for the next Olympic Games in China in 2025.

The Israeli gymnastics community celebrated Dalaloyan's achievement, with Maccabi Tel Aviv sharing the news and photos of his victory. His continued success cements his status as one of the world's leading gymnasts on the floor exercise apparatus.