Ukrainian Gymnast Chepurny Opens Up About Losing a Team Leader and Rivals' Insane Jumps

Nazar Chepurny: Achievements and Future Plans

According to Главком: Nazar Chepurny, a standout gymnast and key member of Ukraine's national sports gymnastics team, shared his accomplishments, upcoming goals, and training routines amid wartime in an interview with Glavcom. Starting his elite sports journey in Cherkasy, he gained recognition by winning a world-level youth competition at age 16 and earning bronze medals in the vault at both the World and European Championships.

During the conversation, Chepurny discussed training at the Olympic base in Koncha-Zaspa and noted that last winter, due to power outages and lack of heating, he traveled to Germany to practice. He trains under coach Hennadii Sartynskyi. He also pointed out that after coaching changes within the national team, much shifted-especially the loss of a unique team atmosphere.

“My path and coach Iryna Horbachova's have diverged. We don’t speak.” - Nazar Chepurny

The State of Global Gymnastics

Chepurny also commented on the global gymnastics scene, particularly competition with other athletes. He noted, “One of the British gymnasts has a jump with 3.5 twists. That’s just incredible.” He expressed his own fears regarding vaults: “Even today, I’m scared of every jump. It’s terrifying to the max.” Despite this, he continues working on complex elements, emphasizing that only a handful of people worldwide can execute a vault with a 5.6 difficulty rating.

At the 2024 Olympics, Chepurny placed 5th in the team all-around and 6th in the vault. He also highlighted that the 2025 European Championships will take place in Zagreb this August. Following recent rule changes in gymnastics, all sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes have been lifted, affecting the sport’s competitive landscape.

Chepurny competes for a club in Saarbrücken, Germany, and at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, he participated in a mixed-team format. Discussing new trends in gymnastics, he stated, “Honey isn’t some new gimmick. It’s been used for a long time because it’s sticky and you can put chalk on it.”

The athlete also stressed the importance of gymnastics’ continued evolution, especially with rule changes now requiring choreographic elements in men’s routines. Chepurny noted that at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, we’ll see the debut of mixed-gender teams consisting of one male and one female gymnast, reflecting the sport’s progression.

As one of Ukraine’s leading gymnasts, Nazar Chepurny showcases not only his athletic achievements but also resilience under difficult wartime conditions. His training and future plans, including participation in the 2025 European Championships, demonstrate his drive to further his career. Shifts in global gymnastics-such as the lifted sanctions on Russian and Belarusian athletes-may also reshape the competitive environment in which Chepurny will continue to compete.

As Chepurny reflects on his past accomplishments and the challenges of the current competitive environment, his aspirations for the future become increasingly significant. With the 2025 European Championships on the horizon, he is not only focused on his training but also setting ambitious goals for 2026. To learn more about his key objectives and the evolving landscape of gymnastics, read about Nazar Chepurny's vision for the upcoming years.