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Artem Dolgopyat became the first gymnastics world champion from Israel in Antwerp. He could only be partially happy about the success.
At the moment of triumph on Saturday in Antwerp, Artem Dolgopyat did not feel like celebrating; his thoughts revolved around the great suffering of his compatriots back home. A mourning ribbon was stuck to the Israeli flag in which the new floor exercise world champion wrapped himself. You could see Dolgopyat’s horror at the many deaths and injuries caused by Hamas’ major attack in Israel.
We pray for better days.
It was “a very difficult day for our country,” wrote Dolgopyat Instagram. Israel’s first gymnastics world champion looked serious, but he proudly held his medal up to the camera. “I ended the day as world champion, but my head and my heart are at home,” he added: “I hope I managed to give a little consolation.”
Legend:
Affected
Artem Dolgopyat and his coaches pose in front of an Israeli flag with mourning ribbon.
Keystone/GEERT VANDEN WIJNGAERT
Maintained nerves
The 26-year-old is a star in his home country. Dolgopyat, who was born in Dnipro, Ukraine, won gold in Tokyo in 2021 and became only the second Olympic champion from Israel. As in Antwerp, he triumphed on the ground. “We pray for better days,” he continued.
Despite the terrible news from home, Dolgopyat, who emigrated from Ukraine to Israel with his family at the age of twelve, had his nerves under control. The vice world champion from 2017 and 2019 prevailed ahead of the Japanese Kazuki Minami and Milad Karimi from Kazakhstan.