Greek gymnast Eleftherios Petrounias extended his legacy on Friday by winning a record-extending eighth European gold title on the rings at the 2025 European Gymnastics Championships. He shared the gold with Turkiye’s Adem Asil, after both delivered standout routines in a tightly contested final.
Petrounias, already considered one of the sport’s greats, called it a milestone moment. “We shared the first gold in my career,” he told European Gymnastics. Asil echoed the sentiment. “It’s the first time in Europe to have two champions of Europe on rings. I’m really, really glad to share the podium with the legend of the rings.”
The final was among the most competitive of the day. Armenia’s Artur Avetisyan took bronze with a score of 14.366, while all eight finalists finished within just 0.334 points of one another.
Earlier, Great Britain’s Luke Whitehouse made history of his own by winning a third straight European gold on the men’s floor with a score of 14.500. Teammate and clubmate Harry Hepworth followed closely behind with 14.366 to secure silver.
Both gymnasts, representing Leeds Gymnastics Club, had been favored for the title after helping Team GB win gold earlier in the week. They each performed routines with a 6.1 difficulty rating, well above the field.
Ο Λευτέρης Πετρούνιας μεγαλώνει το θρύλο του!
Αναδείχθηκε πρωταθλητής Ευρώπης για 8η φορά στους κρίκους.
Κατέκτησε την πρώτη θέση στο Ευρωπαϊκό Πρωτάθλημα της Λειψίας με 14.400 βαθμούς#Petrounias #EuropeanChampion #gold #TeamHellas #RoadtoLosAngeles2028 pic.twitter.com/0JzZE8LFOd
— Ηellenic Olympic Committee (@HellenicOlympic) May 30, 2025
Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat, the reigning Olympic and world champion on floor, was considered a top contender but fell on a double front, knocking him out of medal contention. Italy’s Lorenzo Minh Casali finished third with 13.966 and was visibly emotional during the medal ceremony.
Germany’s Karina Schoenmaier thrilled the home crowd by winning the women’s vault final with a score of 13.983. It marked her second gold of the championships, following her win in the mixed team event alongside Timo Eder. Bulgaria’s Valentina Georgieva took silver with 13.900, and Belgium’s Lisa Vaelen claimed bronze at 13.666.
In the men’s pommel horse, Armenia’s Hamlet Manukyan and Mamikon Khachatryan delivered a one-two finish. The first-year seniors posted scores of 14.766 and 14.733.
Italy’s Gabriele Targhetta, also a teenager, earned bronze with 14.400. Albania’s Matvei Petrov, 34, returned from retirement to finish fourth with 14.366 after previously stepping away from competition to coach.
Belgium’s Nina Derwael completed a comeback in the women’s uneven bars, capturing her third European title on the apparatus and first since 2018.
Derwael scored 14.466, combining a strong 8.166 execution with a 6.3 difficulty. Hungary’s Bettina Lili Czifra earned silver (14.100), while Romania’s Ana Barbosu claimed her second bronze of the championships with 13.766.
The final day of competition is set for Saturday, with titles still up for grabs in women’s beam and floor, and men’s vault, parallel bars and high bar.
