Marko Jovičić the Only Rijeka Gymnast at the European Championships
The Rijeka gymnast will compete on the floor exercise at Zagreb Arena from August 19 to 23, alongside four Croatian Olympians.
The Rijeka gymnast will compete on the floor exercise at Zagreb Arena from August 19 to 23, alongside four Croatian Olympians.
Marko Jovičić will be the only representative from Rijeka in the men's competition at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, held at Zagreb Arena from August 19 to 23, 2026. Alongside him, Tin Srbić, Aurel Benović, Filip Ude, Ilija Kovtun, and Mateo Žugec will also defend Croatia's colors.
Jovičić secured his spot on the floor exercise at the end of April this year, after two control training sessions. As reported by Riječki Novi list, he will compete on the national team alongside as many as four Olympians.
The final preparations for the European Championships were more intense than usual. The national team gathered for a week in Osijek, where they trained twice a day. "That was really beneficial for me because in Rijeka I train alone and have no one at this level to share those moments with," Jovičić told Novi list.
He particularly highlighted the difference in conditions: "Especially in Osijek, where the conditions are good, while we in the gym in Rijeka still have the conditions we have." The World Challenge Cup tournament in Koper, where he finished 13th, also served as a good test.
Jovičić is clear about his ambitions for the upcoming championship. "I would be satisfied with a final score above 13.0, but that is the result of a well-executed routine," he emphasized. His focus is on technique and execution, not on the pressure of expectations. "I want to leave the floor satisfied and not put pressure on myself or carry others' expectations. I could get too bogged down if I think in that direction."
Beyond his sporting goals, Jovičić will also represent the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County at the European Championships, as its ambassador within the European Region of Sport project.
Jovičić made his European Championship debut in 2023 in Turkey, and in just three years, he has become a coach and the first international judge in the history of his club. Although he wasn't entirely satisfied with his placements at major competitions, he highlights the experience gained, including an appearance in the World Cup final in Cairo in 2021.
"I have gained great experience from major competitions," he said, adding that the rules change every Olympic cycle, requiring constant adaptation. "Element combinations that were valid in the last cycle may not be in the next one."
Jovičić believes that gymnastics has reached a level unimaginable five to ten years ago. He is aware of the challenges awaiting him in Zagreb: "In Zagreb, the competition will be strong and challenging, and the level itself is enormously high for Croatia, so making it into the top eight in any discipline is an incredible achievement."
He has only praise for teammate Ilija Kovtun: "In my opinion, Ilija Kovtun is a potential European champion in the all-around. He trains very diligently, up to three times a day."
Finally, he said: "I would be glad if someone from Rijeka one day followed in my footsteps in men's gymnastics and earned a spot at major competitions. And an even bigger goal is to have a gym that would make something like that possible again."
