European Champion Chepurny Slams New Gymnastics Rules

Nazar Chepurny Weighs In on Gymnastics Overhaul

According to Главком: Nazar Chepurny, the European champion in artistic gymnastics, has shared his thoughts on recent changes to the sport. The updates include adding choreographed movements to men's floor routines and cutting the number of required elements on apparatus from ten down to eight. Chepurny calls the choreography adjustments pointless, arguing they force athletes to overthink basic transitions during their performances.

"In my view, these innovations are absurd. Now, during routines, you have to constantly think about how to move from one diagonal to another and which direction to turn."

Nazar Chepurny

He believes the reforms will make judging more complicated, giving referees additional reasons to deduct points.

Fewer Elements on Apparatus

On the reduction of elements on apparatus, Chepurny expressed a more favorable view, stating:

"It's good that there are fewer, not more. But there's a catch. Those who used to rack up points with ten elements now have to achieve the same with just eight. That means the difficulty level goes up."

Nazar Chepurny

This means that while the total number of elements drops, their complexity is set to increase.

Chepurny also commented on the mixed-gender teams planned for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where each team will consist of one male and one female athlete. He said he feels neutral about the format, having already competed in a mixed event at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. "We'll see. There are new requirements-we'll adapt," the athlete added.

As of now, Nazar Chepurny has been named Ukraine's Athlete of the Month for February 2026 by the National Olympic Committee, following his victory in the vault at the World Cup stage in Cottbus, Germany. He also won the overall 2026 World Cup standings in that discipline. During the 2026 season, Chepurny competed in three out of five World Cup stages. Last year, he took gold on parallel bars, and this year, he won gold in vault. His personal coach, Gennadiy Sartynskyi, was recognized as Coach of the Month.

The recent gymnastics reforms-introducing new elements and altering competition formats-have sparked heated debate among athletes and coaches alike. The addition of choreographed routines and the reduction in apparatus elements could significantly reshape how gymnasts train and perform at upcoming events, including the Olympic Games. As one of the sport's top competitors, Chepurny's willingness to adjust to the new rules signals that his team is ready to tackle these changes head-on, which may prove crucial for their success on the global stage.

As Nazar Chepurny navigates the evolving landscape of gymnastics, it's essential to understand his broader ambitions for the upcoming competitions. In a recent interview, he outlined his primary objectives for 2026, emphasizing the significance of these changes in shaping his training and performance strategy. To explore Chepurny's goals and how they align with these new rules, read more about his aspirations for the year here.