Israel wins second-ever Olympic gold medal
Artem Dolgopyat scored Israel its second Olympic gold in its history, taking country's Tokyo 2020 medal tally to three.
Israel has won its second-ever Olympic gold medal yesterday, taking its medal haul to a record-breaking three medals.
Gymnast Artem Dolgopyat won the country’s first Oympic gold since 2004 after beating tough Spanish and Chinese competition in the artistic gymnastics floor exercise competition to take the top spot.
The impressive feat means Israel has so far clinched three medals at Tokyo 2020, its highest ever number of medals.
Only one other Israeli athlete has ever won a gold medal – windsurfer Gal Fridman in 2004 in Athens.
Dolgopyat, a 24-year-old two-time world championship silver medalist who immigrated to Israel from Ukraine at the age of 12, was lauded by prime minister Naftali Bennett for making history.
He said the gymnast brought “immense pride and excitement to all of Israel.”
Speaking to reporters after the medal ceremony, Dolgopyat said he was “speechless.”
“I’m still in the sky and it’s hard to come down,” he said, thanking supporters in Israel and saying, “I love you all.”
Dolgopyat earned the top spot with a score of 14.933, giving him a total ahead of Spain’s Rayderley Miguel Zapata, who took silver and China’s Xiao Ruoteng, who won the bronze medal.
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