The Jerusalem Post reports: Alex Shatilov picked up some much-needed confidence ahead of the Rio Olympics on Sunday, claiming a bronze medal in the floor exercise at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Bern, Switzerland.
The 29-year-old Israeli registered a score of 15.300 points to finish in third place and collect his sixth career medal in the event. Nikita Nagornyy of Russia won the gold with a score of 15.566, with Marian Dragulescu of Romania taking a silver with 15.333.
Shatilov’s return to the podium at the continental championships is an especially encouraging sign for Israel’s greatest ever gymnast after he only came fourth in last year’s European final in Montpellier, France, missing out on a medal in the event for the first time since 2008.
He scaled the podium in each of his previous five appearances at the championships, winning bronze medals in 2009, 2012 and 2014, a silver in 2011 and a gold in 2013. He missed the competition in 2010 due to injury.
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