Kovtun takes All-Around title in thrilling Zagreb opener

Today, the 2026 Men’s European Championships in Artistic Gymnastics got underway in Zagreb, and the opening day certainly lived up to expectations. The battle for the All-Around podium was fierce, with just the finest of margins separating the leading gymnasts.

It was ultimately Illia Kovtun, competing for Croatia at his first major competition, who claimed the top spot with an outstanding performance, scoring 82.833. He also topped the Parallel Bars standings.

Arsenii Dukhno came very close, finishing just 0.001 points behind Kovtun to take the silver medal. Daniel Marinov completed the podium in third place with a score of 81.899.

Congratulations to the medallists!

GOLD – Illia Kovtun (CRO) 82.833

SILVER – Arsenii Dukhno (WG2) 82.832

BRONZE – Daniel Marinov (WG2) 81.899

The day also featured the Men’s Senior qualification rounds, with the top eight gymnasts on each apparatus securing their place apparatus finals, which will be Friday and Saturday at the Zagreb Arena. The eight best teams will compete for the Team title on Sunday, following the Junior All-Around Final.

Qualified to Friday’s apparatus Finals:

Floor

1. Arsenii Dukhno (WG2) 14.833
2. Artem Dolgopyat (ISR) 14.766
3. Harry Hepworth (GBR) 14.333
4. Mukhammadzhon Iakubov (WG2) 14.100
5. Illia Kovtun (CRO) 14.100
6. Eamon Montgomery (IRL) 14.033
7. Yahor Sharamkou (WG1) 13.966
8. Luca Murabito (SUI) 13.900

 

Pommel Horse

1. Gabriel Targhetta (ITA) 15.200
2. Mamikon Khachatryan (ARM) 14.766
3. Hamlet Manukyan (ARM) 14.733
4. Dmitrijs Mickevics (LAT) 14.466
5. Rhys Mc Clenaghan (IRL) 14.400
6. Ignacio Yockers (ESP) 14.400
7. David Ivanov (BUL) 14.366
8. Arsenii Dukhno (WG2) 14.333

 

Rings

1. Ilia Zaika (WG2) 14.466
2. Eleftherios Petrounias (GRE) 14.400
3. Courtney Tulloch (GBR) 14.366
4. Artur Avestiyan (ARM) 14.333
5. Harry Hepworth (GBR) 14.233
6. Vahagn Davtyan (ARM) 14.166
7. Nikita Simonov (AZE) 14.166
8. Artur Sahakyan (GER) 14.100

 

Qualified to Saturday’s apparatus Finals:

Vault

1. Artur Davtyan (ARM) 14.716
2. Nazar Chepurnyi (UKR) 14.466
3. Harry Hepworth (GBR) 14.399
4. Arsenii Dukhno (WG2) 14.266
5. Sebastian Sponevik (NOR) 14.250
6. Aleksei Usachev (WG2) 14.183
7. Sol Scott (GBR) 14.033
8. Daniel Trifonov (BUL) 14.016

 

Parallel bars

1. Illia Kovtun (CRO) 14.500
2. Joe Fraser (GBR) 14.366
3. Ferhat Arican (TUR) 14.366
4. Krisztofer Meszaros (HUN) 14.333
5. Nazar Cheprnyi (UKR) 14.100
6. Altan Dogan (TUR) 14.100
7. Nicola Cuyle (BEL) 14.000
8. Ron Pyatov (ISR) 13.966

 

High bar

1. Savelii Sieedin (WG2) 14.233
2. Illia Kovtun (CRO) 14.200
3. Joe Fraser (GBR) 14.200
4. Marios Georgiou (CYP) 14.100
5. Robert Tvorogal (LTU) 14.033
6. Radomyr Stelmakh (GER) 14.033
7. Caden Spencer (BUL) 14.000
8. Noe Seifert (SUI) 13.966

 

Qualified to Sunday’s Team Final:

1. World Gymnastics 2 (WG2) 250.662
2. Switzerlan (SUI) 243.830
3. Great Britain (GBR) 243.561
4. Italy (ITA) 243.295
5. Belgium (BEL) 241.060
6. Germany (GER) 240.960
7. France (FRA) 240.960
8. Hungary (HUN) 239.328

 

Find the full results on the event website: https://www.europeangymnastics.com/event/2026-european-championships-mens-artistic-gymnastics-zagreb-cro/results

These European Championships continue tomorrow with the juniors’ qualifications.