Artyom Dolgopyat Wins Third European Gold, Eyes 2028 Olympic Campaign

Artyom Dolgopyat, Israel's leading gymnast, secured his third European gold medal in floor exercise at the 2026 European Championships held in Zagreb. This victory marks a continuation of his near-decade dominance in the discipline, following previous European titles in 2020 and 2022. The win is particularly meaningful as it comes nearly a year after Israel was barred from competing at the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta due to political reasons, a setback that deeply disappointed Dolgopyat.

Dolgopyat, 29, from Rishon LeZion, has an impressive track record including a gold medal at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp and two silver medals. He is also a three-time Olympic medalist, having won gold at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024, positioning him as one of Israel's greatest Olympic athletes alongside Gal Fridman. After his silver in Paris, Dolgopyat announced his intention to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming to extend his remarkable career.

Having narrowly missed participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Dolgopyat has since become a global gymnastics icon, overcoming multiple injuries to maintain elite performance. His journey from Ukraine to Israel, training daily from Rishon LeZion to Wingate Institute under coach Sergey Vaisburg, exemplifies his dedication. The Israeli Gymnastics Federation credits his numerous World Cup golds and consistent excellence. Looking ahead, Dolgopyat hopes to avoid political obstacles like those faced last year and continue his pursuit of gymnastics greatness.