# Ilia Kovtun at World Gymnastics Championships

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ilia-kovtun-at-world-gymnastics-championships
> Updated: 2026-10-27T05:57:31.000Z. Sources: 16. Developments: 3.

The Croatian gymnastics delegation arrived in Rotterdam for the World Gymnastics Championships in mid-October. Due to injuries to male gymnasts Tin Srbić and Aurel Benović, Ilia Kovtun served as the sole male representative for Croatia.

By the conclusion of the championships, Kovtun secured a silver medal in the pommel horse final with a score of 14.900. This marked his first world championship medal competing for Croatia. He finished 11th in the individual all-around competition. In the pommel horse final, China’s Zou Jingyuan earned gold with a score of 15.733, while Russia’s Daniel Marinov took bronze with 14.866. This podium result mirrored the order seen at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Following his victory, Kovtun was celebrated in Osijek by hundreds of citizens. The homecoming included traditional tamburaši music and torches in front of the Sokol center. Kovtun, who began officially competing for Croatia in mid-2025 after moving to Osijek following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, expressed gratitude to the local community and stated his immediate plan is to rest.

Kovtun is eligible for a 7,000 euro prize under Croatian regulations for his silver medal performance. This achievement follows his success at the European Championships in Zagreb, where he won gold medals in both the all-around and pommel horse events.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-27: Gymnast Ilija Kovtun celebrated in Osijek after World Championship silver

Gymnast Ilija Kovtun received a celebratory homecoming in Osijek after winning a silver medal on the pommel horse at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gymnast-ilija-kovtun-celebrated-in-osijek-after-world-championship-silver

### 2026-10-25: Ilija Kovtun wins silver medal in men's pommel horse

Gymnast Ilija Kovtun won silver in the pommel horse at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, marking his first world medal for Croatia.

15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ilija-kovtun-wins-silver-medal-on-pommel-horse-at-world-gymnastics-championships

### 2026-10-14: Ilia Kovtun leads Croatian gymnastics team at World Championships

Ilia Kovtun leads the Croatian gymnastics delegation at the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, following the withdrawal of Tin Srbić and Aurel Benović due to injuries.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ilia-kovtun-leads-croatian-gymnastics-team-at-world-championships

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Cite as: Ilia Kovtun at World Gymnastics Championships. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ilia-kovtun-at-world-gymnastics-championships