"As exciting as the first time": Artem Dolgopyat in an interview after winning the European Championship
Artem Dolgopyat, who won his third gold medal at the European Floor Exercise Championships, speaks to "Weekend" about the preparations, the pressures, and the excitement he feels every time he hears "Hatikvah" on the podium.
Artem Dolgopyat, the leading Israeli gymnast, won his third gold medal at the European Floor Exercise Championships, held on Friday, August 21, 2026. In his first interview after the win for i24NEWS's "Weekend" program, Dolgopyat spoke about the challenging preparations for the competition, which included a back injury, and the self-criticism that drove him to bring his best at the crucial moment. He described the close timing between the all-around qualifiers and the floor exercise final as a difficult challenge in terms of recovery. Although it was not the first time he heard "Hatikvah" on the podium, Dolgopyat emphasized that the moment is as exciting as the first time. Throughout his career, he has amassed 13 medals in major world competitions, including medals from the last two Olympics. At age 29, he is aware that age is starting to play a role, but he continues to remain humble.