Becky Downie and Barbora Kundrát discuss their 14 European Championship appearances in Zagreb; Longevity aided by softer equipment.

Gymnasts Becky Downie and Barbora Kundrát reflect on their 14 European Championship appearances

GB’s Becky Downie and Slovakia’s Barbora Kundrát discuss their respective experiences from gymnastics evolution to ever-present support.

“My first Euros was 2008,” Becky Downie told Olympics.com with a smile after her latest edition began at the 2026 European Championships in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics in Zagreb on Thursday (13 August).

The three-time Olympian had just competed in the first day of competition in Croatia’s capital, which served as the qualification for the apparatus and team finals, and unusually also doubled as the individual all-around competition.

The world silver medallist on the uneven bars in 2019, Downie this time was unable to qualify for the apparatus final, an event in which she made the Olympic final at Paris 2024 .

Yet the 34-year-old was pleased with her progress having been out of international competition since the Games in France having overcome two shoulder surgeries.

Her own beginning at the continental championships, of which this is Downie’s 14th edition, came as a senior in 2008 in Clermont-Ferrand, France, but Downie cites her European journey as starting earlier than that.

“My first junior (European Championships) was actually 2006, so it’s been 20 years and yeah, a lot has changed,” said Downie before reflecting on the evolution of the sport.

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Becky Downie on the positive changes in gymnastics

More “friendly” equipment is one of the positive changes that has enabled the likes of Downie to continue gymnastics to a comparatively later age.

“The mats are softer, everything’s just better and I think that’s one thing that’s enabled me to have that longevity as well because you’ve felt how difficult it was before and there’s lots of things that have improved,” said the Nottingham native whose favourite moments from the championships include GB’s first-ever team medal in 2010 and her first individual medal in 2014.

The impact of social media has also been rapid, even in the past few years.

“I think when social media first came in, it was really harsh, and we were criticised a lot and it just wasn’t very nice, whereas I think over the last four or five years it’s become a nicer place where people are just appreciating that it’s hard for everyone and nobody’s going to be perfect .

“It helps you as the athlete as well to give context because people are so quick to judge how you’re doing, what you’re doing, and they see a snapshot, they don’t see the full story, and I think it’s just owning your journey, where you’re at, and you choose to put out what you want to, which is quite nice.”

Ever the student of gymnastics, Downie also revealed with a smile: “It helps you to see what’s out there, what people are training, as well”.

One of those who likely have caught her eye is fellow 14-time European competitor, Barbora Kundrát (formerly Mokošová) of Slovakia, who has had a constant companion throughout her own European journey – her mum.

Barbora Kundrát (formerly) Mokosova of Slovakia competes on the balance beam during women’s qualification at Rio 2016 Ezra Shaw

Barbora Kundrát’s No.1 fan an ever-present comfort

Asking after the cohort of fans in the crowd cheering Slovakia’s every move during qualification in Croatia, the 29-year-old Bratislava native smiled before revealing the group was a mix of gym friends and family.

“I’m so happy that mum is here again because she’s traveling with me for so many years since I was a junior, so I’m so happy and thankful for everything she’s done for me and that she’s still travelling with me and supporting me,” she said.

And does her mum get nervous watching her?

“I think she’s so nervous but on the other side she knows that I can do beautiful gymnastics and I really enjoy it. She is also an ex-gymnast, so she knows how it is in gymnastics.

“I’m so happy that she’s here and supports me. All the time, after every routine, I look at her and she says to me, ‘Yes, you go, you’ve got it’. "

It’s not only Barbora’s mum who has been with her since the first championships in 2013.

“I remember that she was watching it all the time and she bought me a Minnie Mouse, and since then I have it here and all the time Minnie Žofka is travelling with me. Now it’s my coach having it in the backpack and she’s always having the head up to see how I am competing .”

Kundrát won a precious medal on bars at the 2020 edition in Mersin, Türkiye, something she describes as one of the best moments of her life.

“I cannot explain the feeling standing on the podium and getting the bronze medal at the Europeans. It was amazing and I also qualified for the Olympics,” said Kundrát who competed at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 .

“The sport brings us a lot of memories I cannot forget, never.”

With the Olympic Games LA28 less than two years away, both Kundrát and Downie have eyes on the biggest goal of all but are experienced enough to know that anything can happen between now and then.

In Downie’s immediate future it’s the team final on Sunday but the World Championships in Rotterdam in October is the next major championship goal for both.

For now though, they just enjoy each day as it comes in their beloved sport.

How to watch the 2026 European Gymnastics Championships live

You can watch all the action from the women’s and men’s events of senior and junior qualifications and the junior finals on the paid-for gymtv.onlin e. See here for information.

The senior finals on Saturday 15 (women’s apparatus finals), Sunday 16 (women’s team final), Friday 21 (men’s apparatus finals part 1), Saturday 22 (men’s apparatus finals part 2) and Sunday 23 August (men’s team final), in addition to the third

last subdivision of the men’s qualification rounds on Wednesday 19 August, will be l ivestreamed via the Eurovision Sports platform .

Additionally, check your local TV listings here . An overview of the TV rights holders of the competitions is available for download here .

Live scoring is also available .