Ilya won three gold medals for Ukraine at the last European Championship
Ukrainian gymnast Ilya Kovtun commented on his performance at the last European Artistic Gymnastics Championshipsand also shared his plans for the future and talked about his motivation to win.
“I am pleased with the result of our work. It’s nice that I realized some of our plans, was able to give my all and replenish Ukraine’s piggy bank with gold. Happy for the team award and that I was able to work as hard as possible for the team! With the coach we are proud of our personal records and achievements. There is also a feeling of disappointment because of the annoying mistakes on the first day, but there is still time to correct them before the Olympics, although it is not enough.”
“My coach and I never focus on medals, their value or quantity. We always focus on work, preparation and maximum performance here and now. We are interested in maximizing my bases, their best execution and the ability to put them together. We also expect from ourselves constant improvement and victory over ourselves, and then we look at which medal this is enough for. We always try to represent our country as honorably as possible, and even more so in such difficult times.”
“Everyone is preparing for the Olympic Games, everyone wants victory, and not to go to Paris as tourists. The competitors are worthy and strong, and I admire some of them. But we will fight for the highest places.”
“What is my main motivation to win medals? The answer will be obvious: these are our Ukrainian people, the real defenders of Ukraine… from the Armed Forces of Ukraine to volunteers, to nervous mothers with constant tears in their eyes, to exhausted, gray-haired men with constant fatigue, to every Ukrainian, from the smallest to the oldest, who are constantly worried and already looking into the eyes of death without fear… I consider it my mission to glorify them around the world and motivate them to hold on and win!”
Let us remind you that 20-year-old Kovtun performed effectively at the continental championship among men, which took place last week in Rimini, Italy. First, he won two individual gold medals in the parallel bars and high bar exercises, and then, as part of the Ukrainian national team, he became the European champion in the team all-around.
Oleg Vernyaev (silver in the all-around) and Nazar Chepurny (bronze in the vault) brought two more awards to Ukraine’s treasury. In addition, Kovtun twice updated his personal record in the horizontal bar competition at the 2024 European Championships.
Already this week, from the second to the fifth of May – also in Italy – the continental championship in artistic gymnastics among women will take place.
Source: Sportarena
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