Highlights of the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Europeans!

Challenging but rewarding, these Men’s Europeans truly were a Championships of ‘firsts’. First major international artistic competition in the covid-era, for many participants the first opportunity to compete since the lockdown started in March and the first medals for several countries!

Here are our highlights … in no particular order!

Mister Mersin 2020 … Ilia Kovtun!

With 5 gold medals and 1 silver, Ukrainian junior Ilia Kovtun crowned himself the star of Mersin. After winning gold on parallel bars at the 2018 junior Europeans, collecting 4 gold and 1 silver medal at last year’s European Youth Olympic Festival and claiming silver with the team and bronze all-around at the inaugural junior World Championships, Kovtun continued his domination of the junior ranks. Turning senior in 2021, he’s definitely in the running to make his country’s Olympic team.

The entire Ukrainian team did an excellent job in Mersin, taking the team gold both in the junior and senior competition. Igor Radivilov won his first European title on vault, after placing second 4 times. He also earned the bronze on rings while Petro Pakhniuk repeated his silver medal from last year on parallel bars.

Petrov’s comeback

When Russian national team member Matvei Petrov didn’t make the Olympic team in 2016, he decided the quit gymnastics. Since then, he moved to Prague building a new life for himself as a coach. And he realised his own gymnastics career was far from over yet too. Putting on the colours of Albania, Petrov started competing again internationally.  With his victory on pommel horse in Mersin, Petrov became the talk of the country, putting gymnastics in the spotlight and serving as an example for aspiring gymnasts.

Dolgopyat’s long-awaited gold

After 4 silver medals on floor, at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships and the two previous Europeans, Israeli star Artem Dolgopyat bagged the gold with a terrific routine. And he stepped out of the shadows on vault as well, earning the bronze medal there.

The host nation shines bright

The hopes of the nation rested on the shoulders of Ibrahim Colak, Turkey’s first World Champion, as he stepped onto the podium for his rings performance. With high difficulty and a stuck dismount, the gold was his. Trailblazing once again and marking the path for the future generations. Turkey’s second European Champion was crowned just a bit later as Ferhat Arican claimed victory on parallel bars.

Austria’s first medal

2014 junior European Champion Vinzenz Hoeck wrote history by winning Austria’s first ever European medal as he clinched the silver on rings.

Lithuania on the rise

2019 European Games Champion Robert Tvorogal continued the rise of Lithuania on the international stage. After winning the bronze on parallel bars, he overtook 2017 World Champion Tin Srbic to claim the European high bar gold. And the future of Lithuania looks assured as well with junior Gytis Chasazyrovas taking the gold on floor and the silver on pommel horse.

 

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
Ukraine	7	6	2	15
Turkey	2	2	4	8
Lithuania	2	1	1	4
Israel	1	1	2	4
Hungary	1	1	3	5
Albania	1	-	-	1
Romania	1	-	-	1
Croatia	-	3	-	3
Belarus	-	1	1	2
Austria	-	1	-	1
Bulgaria	-	-	1	1

 

The Turkish Gymnastics Federation did a wonderful job to organise this event in just two months’ time. A huge ‘teşekkür ederim’ to the organisers and to all the gymnasts that travelled to Mersin in these challenging times.