Great Britain, Ireland, France, Italy and Türkiye earn gold on first day of #Antalya2023 apparatus finals

Antalya Sports Hall warmly welcomed the gymnasts today for the first day of apparatus finals.

The afternoon started on floor where British rising star Luke Whitehouse opened his routine with an excellent triple back. His 6.5 difficulty score was the highest of all competitors with his execution second only to Artem Dolgopyat. In his senior Europeans debut, 20-year-old Whitehouse managed to beat the reigning Olympic Champion. Quite an impressive feat!  Germany’s Milan Hosseini and top qualifier Harry Hepworth (GBR) both scored 14.200 in the battle for bronze. This tie was broken based on the highest execution score, securing the first European medal for Hosseini.

World Champion Rhys McClenaghan (IRL) performed first in the pommel horse, setting the standard for other to try and beat. Belgium’s Maxime Gentges came close, besting the Irish superstar in execution by a tenth. As his difficulty score was 2 tenths lower, McClenaghan regained the title he won in Glasgow in 2018. Tears of joy for Gentges though as he earned the silver medal, Belgium’s first ever medal in the men’s competition. Artur Davtyan and Loran De Munck went head-to-head for bronze, both posting a 14.266. Again, the highest execution decided the tie breaker. Bronze for Armenia’s Davtyan and fourth place for last year’s Vice-European Champion Loran De Munck.

Entering the arena for the vault final, Coline Devillard (FRA) stayed focused on the job at hand. Scoring 14.300 for her first vault, the 2017 European Champion secured her second vault title with a beautiful second vault. Italy’s Asia D’Amato  aced her double twisting Yurchenko but went out of the landing area on her second vault. She retains the silver medal she also won last year in Munich. After an excellent all-around final in which she placed 4^th, Belgium’s Lisa Vaelen had her eyes on the prize. Less than 2 hundreds of a point behind D’Amato, Vaelen clinched the bronze medal. This marked the second time Belgium won a vault bronze, after Aagje Van Walleghem in 2005.

On rings, all 8 finallists performed difficult routines, ranging from 6.0 to 6.3, leaving little room for error. Fresh of a stunning all-around victory, Adem Asil continued his winning streak, this time on the apparatus where he is the reigning World Champion. Armenia’s Vahagn Davtyan and defending Champion Eleftherios Petrounias (GRE) posted 14.733, with, you guesses it, the execution score determining the ultimate ranking. Silver for Davtyan and bronze for Petrounias.

In a star-studded bars final, Alice D’Amato, supported by her sister Asia’s vocal encouragements, excelled. She improved on her already fabulous bars routine from yesterday’s all-around final, posting 14.466 today for the victory. Now both D’Amato twins have an individual European title to their name! Antalya marked the return to international competition of 2014 and 2016 European Champion Becky Downie. She already helped secure the British team a historic team win here. Today, the 31-year-old swung to silver, holding off a strong challenge by defending Champion Eli Seitz.

 

Congratulations to the medallists!

Men’s floor

GOLD Luke WHITEHOUSE (GBR) 14.900

SILVER Artem DOLGOPYAT (ISR) 14.666

BRONZE Milan HOSSEINI (GER) 14.200

Men’s pommel horse

GOLD Rhys MCCLENAGHAN (IRL) 14.666

SILVER Maxime GENTGES (BEL) 14.566

BRONZE Artur DAVTYAN (ARM) 14.266

Women’s vault

GOLD Coline DEVILLARD (FRA) 13.800

SILVER Asia D’AMATO (ITA) 13.600

BRONZE Lisa VAELEN (BEL) 13.583

Men’s rings

GOLD Adem ASIL (TUR) 14.933

SILVER Vahagn DAVTYAN (ARM) 14.733

BRONZE Eleftherios PETROUNIAS (GRE) 14.733

Women’s uneven bars

GOLD Alice D’AMATO (ITA) 14.466

SILVER Becky DOWNIE (GBR) 14.233

BRONZE Eli SEITZ (GER) 14.200

Find the full results on our event website: 2023 European Championships in Artistic Gymnastics | European Gymnastics

These Artistic Europeans conclude tomorrow with the second day of apparatus finals!