ArmenianGymnastOlympic MedalistWorld Champion

Artur Davtyan

Artur Davtyan is a prominent Armenian artistic gymnast and Olympic medalist in vault, a 2022 World Champion, and the first Armenian to medal in artistic gymnastics at the Olympics.

1. Overview

Artur Vahrami Davtyan (Արթուր Վահրամ ԴավթյանArtur Vahram DavtyanArmenian) is a prominent Armenian gymnast who has achieved significant success in artistic gymnastics. Born on August 8, 1992, in Yerevan, Armenia, he is a key member of the Armenia men's national artistic gymnastics team. Davtyan is best known for his exceptional performances on the vault and pommel horse, securing a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the vault event. His bronze medal in Tokyo was not only his first individual Olympic medal but also Armenia's first Olympic medal in artistic gymnastics, making him a historic figure in Armenian sports. Beyond the Olympics, he became the 2022 World Champion in vault, a 2019 European Games vault champion, and holds multiple medals from the European Championships, including two golds.

2. Early Life

Artur Davtyan was born on August 8, 1992, in Yerevan, Armenia. He began his gymnastics journey at the age of seven in 1998. By 2008, at the age of 17, Davtyan had already joined the Armenian national gymnastics team, marking the beginning of his professional career. He is also the brother of fellow Armenian national team member Vahagn Davtyan.

3. Career

Artur Davtyan's career progressed from a promising junior athlete to a highly decorated senior gymnast, achieving numerous milestones at both continental and global levels.

3.1. Junior Career

Davtyan made his mark in youth competitions early in his career. In 2009, he participated in the 2009 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival held in Tampere, Finland. Alongside his Armenian teammates Vahan Vardanyan and Arthur Tovmasyan, he helped the team secure sixth place among 23 competing nations in the team event. Individually, Davtyan continued to impress, also finishing sixth in the all-around competition. He further achieved seventh place in the vault, sixth place on the parallel bars, and ninth place in the rings exercises.

A year later, at the Junior European Championships in Birmingham, Davtyan showcased his potential by becoming the champion in the vault with a score of 15.462. He also placed fourth on the rings with a score of 13.975, ninth on the parallel bars, and seventh on the pommel horse.

3.2. Adult Career

Davtyan transitioned to senior competition in 2011, participating in the 2011 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Berlin. As the youngest competitor in the all-around, he finished 20th. While he did not qualify for event finals, his performance on the vault, where he placed 14th, was his strongest.

In January 2012, Davtyan competed in an international qualifying tournament in London, where he secured his spot at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He finished second in the vault with 15.450 points and 12th in the all-around with 84.2 points. Later that year, at the third phase of the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha, he won silver in the vault (15.725) and placed fourth on the pommel horse (14.575). His impressive performance earned him the Aspire Academy Award for best young gymnasts at the Doha World Cup, an honor he shared with Diana Bulimar. At the 2012 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Montpellier, he achieved a fifth-place finish in the all-around.

3.2.1. Olympic Games

Artur Davtyan has represented Armenia at multiple Summer Olympic Games. His debut was at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he faced an unfortunate turn of events due to a leg injury, which prevented him from advancing past the qualifying stage.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Davtyan was the third reserve for the vault final, having finished 11th in qualification.

His breakthrough Olympic performance came at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, held in 2021. He earned a historic bronze medal in the men's vault event. This was not only Davtyan's first individual Olympic medal but also the first Olympic medal ever for Armenia in artistic gymnastics. Furthermore, it was the first medal for Armenia at the 2020 Games.

Davtyan continued his Olympic success at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He won a silver medal in the men's vault, marking another significant achievement and securing the first medal for Armenia at the 2024 Games.

3.2.2. World and European Championships

Davtyan has consistently medaled at major international championships. He won a bronze medal on vault at the 2013 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships. He later secured a silver medal in vault at the 2016 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships. His first European gold came at the 2021 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, where he claimed the title on the pommel horse. In 2022, he earned a silver medal in vault at the 2022 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships. His strong run continued into 2023, where he won another gold medal in vault and a bronze medal on pommel horse at the 2023 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antalya. In 2024, he secured another silver medal on vault at the 2024 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rimini.

A crowning achievement in his career came at the 2022 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool, where Davtyan became the World Champion in the vault event.

3.2.3. Other International Competitions and Milestones

Beyond the major championships, Davtyan has accumulated numerous medals in various international events. He won a gold medal in vault at the Gymnastics at the 2019 European Games in Minsk. In the 2019 Doha World Cup, he earned a bronze medal in vault. During the 2017 Doha World Cup, he took home a silver in vault and a bronze in pommel horse. At the 2015 Doha World Challenge Cup, he had an impressive outing, securing gold in vault, silver in rings, and bronze in pommel horse.

A notable achievement in his career occurred at the 2021 Cairo World Cup. During this event, Artur Davtyan performed a new element on the pommel horse. This intricate new move was officially recognized and named the 'Davtyan' in his honor, marking his lasting contribution to the technical vocabulary of gymnastics.

Artur Davtyan at the 2015 European Championships
Artur Davtyan at the 2015 European Championships

4. Competitive History

YearEventTeamAAFXPHSRVTPBHB
Junior
2009European Youth Olympic Festival66586
2010
European Championships19-7-
Senior
2011
European Championships20
World Championships95
2012Olympic test event366
Doha Challenge Cup-
Olympic Games36
2013Doha Challenge Cup-
European Championships8-
2014Doha Challenge Cup-
European Championships35
World Championships44
2015Doha Challenge Cup---
European Championships44
World Championships32
2016Doha Challenge Cup4
Olympic test event13
European Championships-
Olympic GamesDavtyan finished 11th in qualification and was the third reserve
2017Doha World Cup4--8
European Championships65
Summer Universiade547
Paris Challenge Cup86
World Championships13
2018
European ChampionshipsDavtyan finished 9th in qualification and was the first reserve
World Championships3297
2019Doha World Cup-
European Championships8
European Games56-
World Championships37
2021
European Championships-6
Olympic Games-
2022Cottbus World Cup-
Doha World Cup-
Cairo World Cup7-6
European Championships6-
World Championships-
2023Cottbus World Cup-
Doha World Cup-
Cairo World Cup7-
European Championships4--
Varna Challenge Cup6---5
Osijek Challenge Cup--8
World ChampionshipsDavtyan withdrew from the all-around final6
2024Cairo World Cup-
Cottbus World Cup-
European Championships-
Olympic Games-
Voronin Cup------
2025Cottbus World Cup-

5. Legacy and Impact

Artur Davtyan holds a significant place in the history of Armenian gymnastics. His bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was a landmark achievement, marking the first Olympic medal for Armenia in artistic gymnastics. This accomplishment, coupled with his silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and his 2022 World Championship title, has elevated the profile of the sport in Armenia.

Beyond his medal tally, Davtyan has contributed to the technical evolution of gymnastics, notably with the naming of the 'Davtyan' element on the pommel horse. This recognition cements his lasting impact on the sport, beyond his competitive career. His consistent high-level performance at World, European, and Olympic events has established him as one of Armenia's most successful and influential gymnasts, inspiring a new generation of athletes in the country.