Ilija Kovtun wins two gold medals at European Gymnastics Championships

Ilija Kovtun secured two gold medals at the European Gymnastics Championships held in Zagreb, Croatia. The 23-year-old gymnast won the gold in the all-around competition and on the rings apparatus.

His victory on the rings marks his third European title in that discipline, following previous wins in 2023 and 2024. Kovtun noted that he competed despite suffering from a blister during his routines. In the rings final, he achieved a score of 14.700, finishing ahead of Turkey’s Ferhat Arıcan, who took silver, and Great Britain’s Joe Fraser, who took bronze.

Marijo Možnik, president of the Croatian Gymnastics Federation, praised the event's organization and highlighted Kovtun’s performance as a historic moment for Croatian gymnastics. Možnik noted that this was the largest European gymnastics championship in history and the first to award monetary prizes to both athletes and coaches.