Highlights of men’s #Zagreb2026

From 19 to 23 August, Zagreb hosted the 2026 edition of the Mens European Championships in Artistic Gymnastics for the first time. These Europeans welcomed 40 participation national federations, represented by a grand total of 333 gymnasts (185 seniors and 148 juniors).

Here are our highlights following an amazing week of competition… in a no particular order!

Illia Kovtun cheered on

At the start of the European Championships, Illia Kovtun, competing for Croatia for the first time, claimed the All-Around title. To the delight of his home crowd, he also qualified for three apparatus finals: Floor, High Bar and Parallel Bars. It was on the latter that he secured his second medal of the Championships, becoming European champion on Parallel Bars.

With a score of 14.700, he delivered a powerful and impressive performance. There is no doubt that the 23-year-old, who continues to make great strides, will be back on the podiums again soon.

Joe Fraser, once again

A familiar face on the podium since his junior days, Joe Fraser also left his mark on Zagreb. The Briton, who claimed three European titles in Munich in 2022, qualified for two individual apparatus finals this year: High Bar and Parallel Bars. He returned home with gold on High Bar and also played a key role in his team’s victory, once again delivering a strong performance on Parallel Bars.

Chepurnyi rises to the top

Bronze medallist in Rimini in 2024 and Leipzig in 2025, Nazar Chepurnyi raised his game once again. With a score of 14.566, he took first place to claim his first European Championship gold medal on vault.

Georgiou: one medal and a shooting star award

In Zagreb, Marios Georgiou added another medal to his impressive collection, claiming silver on the High Bar. The Cypriot also received the Shooting Star Award, recognising a gymnast with an exceptional story, who inspires both future generations of gymnasts and the wider public.

And there is no doubt that his journey is an inspiring one. The gymnast, who brought Cyprus its first-ever European medals, made history in 2024 by becoming the first Cypriot European All-Around Champion in Rimini.

Dolgopyat: floor champion

Olympic champion on floor at the Tokyo Games, world champion on floor in 2023, and a triple world and European silver medallist (2017, 2019; 2018, 2019 and 2023), Artem Dolgopyat is regarded as one of the finest gymnasts of his generation. He proved it once again in Zagreb last week, claiming another gold medal on floor.

Targhetta, Italian elegance

Young Italian Gabriele Targhetta was crowned European champion on pommel horse on Friday in Zagreb. Targhetta managed to put last year’s small mistakes behind him and claim the top spot on the podium this time around. Elegant and composed, the Italian has gained both experience and confidence. A first step towards an exciting future.

Avestiyan, from bronze to gold

A specialist on rings, Artur Avestiyan proved his class once again. A regular on the podium in this discipline, the Armenian delivered another strong performance in Zagreb, showcasing great strength and technical precision. After claiming bronze last year, he continued to grow and work hard, this time earning the most coveted medal: gold.

Smirnov takes the All-Around crown

Daniil Smirnov is Junior European All-Around Champion at Zagreb 2026!

After already securing a silver medal on Horizontal Bar in the individual apparatus finals, the Russian came out on top in a thrilling finish to claim the gold medal. With impressive performances on Vault and Pommel Horse, the young Smirnov showed that he will be a name to watch at future international competitions.

Golovin’s week of medals

Another athlete to keep an eye on in the future is Volodymyr Golovin. The Ukrainian made a strong impression in Zagreb, claiming no fewer than four medals in one week.

He came agonisingly close to the All-Around title, finishing second by just 0.001 points. He also added bronze on Floor and silver on Parallel Bars, before capping off an outstanding week by becoming European champion on Pommel Horse.

Great Britain: Golden teams

This week of competition has put the British team in the spotlight. After the juniors claimed team gold, the seniors followed suit to close out these European Championships. A double victory, therefore, for the reigning European champions, who edged ahead of Russia in a thrilling finish, thanks to strong performances from all the athletes.

Thank you!

European Gymnastics would like to thank the Croatian Gymnastics Federation for organising this event, which has put the gymnasts in the spotlight. A big thank you also goes to all the gymnasts, coaches and judges, as well as all the volunteers.