Enriquez closes out 2025 European Youth Olympics with historic Vault Gold

Osijek, Croatia - Chester Enríquez closes out 2025 European Youth Olympics in historic fashion, winning not only the first ever medal at EYOF for gymnastics, but following up with a gold medal in the final competition of the event.

Men's Artistic started out the competition week with Qualifications on Tuesday, July 22nd. Robert Ward and Finlay Hazelton competed in the All-Around, while teammate Enriquez competed in 5 of the 6 apparatuses. 

Ward finished out his competition placing 38th in the AA with a score of 69.800 helping the team to a first historic result: 10th place in the team event, with a final score of 147.900 - the highest Ireland's has ever placed and beating power houses such as France & Turkey on this occasion.

Hazelton finished 26th with an overall score of 72.550, and qualified for the Vault Final with a score of 13.175 (7th place). Teammate Enríquez qualified to the Floor final with the 7th score and for the Vault Final with the 3rd score.

Women's Artistic Qualifications took place on Wednesday, July 23rd. Estella Volkoff and Roisin Hickey competed in the All-Around and Team Qualifications. Hickey finished 38th in the AA scoring 45.700, while teammate Volkoff finished 46th with a score of 45.300. The team placed 16th with a score of 91.000. Both Irish girls were unlucky not to make beam final but demonstrated great potential for the future.

Another historic first for the team, as Enriquez and Hickey qualified as a pair in the Mixed Team Final, a new format where you see the top scoring female and male from each team compete side by side as one. The pair qualified in 16th place. On Thursday, July 24th, Hickey competed on beam scoring 12.533 and Enriquez competed in the Parallel Bars scoring 11.833. They finished the day 13th!

On Friday July 25th, Enríquez made history by achieving a Bronze Medal at the Floor Final with a score of 13.566, the first ever gymnastics medal at a EYOF event for Ireland.

In the Vault Final on Saturday, Hazelton finished 5th with an average score of 13.083, while teammate Chester doubled down on the medals, besting his floor bronze and achieving another historic medal - this time Gold with a score of 13.599.

Chester Enríquez on his EYOF journey:
"It's surreal! An experience I'll never forget for the rest of my life. Coming home with a Gold and Bronze medal, I couldn't ask for more really. I can't even express how I feel in words because I am that ecstatic. I am so proud of myself and my team for what we have come out here and done. I am thankful to so many people who have supported me along my journey this whole time. It's unbelievable."

Chester's Personal Coach Conor McGovern commented on his performance:
"I am so tremendously proud of Chester. The tenacity, the perseverance, and sheer determination he possesses is unmatched in his age group. He's shown not only can he medal on floor, but vault as well. He's the first ever champion at EYOF in gymnastics. The first EYOF Gold Medalist for Team Ireland at this Festival. It shows the level of dedication he has to the sport of gymnastics. He was able to handle the nerves at his first major international and implement the strategy which was planned out for him perfectly. He listens and follows the plan - it's not luck or coincidence. That comes from a team: team Origin, team Ireland, and Gymnastics Ireland. It comes from everyone who helps support the journey. It's a team, a nation, and to see him go up there and represent Ireland is particularly special. We've Rhys behind us motivating us and we drew that inspiration. I know with his hard work, dedication and relentlessness towards excellence, this won't be the last time we see Chester on the international podium."

Gymnastics Ireland's Performance & Technical Director Sally Johnson commented on Chester's medals:
"A super achievement and huge congratulations on Chester's Bronze and Gold Medals at the European Youth Olympic Festival 2025. As the first Irish gymnast to win a medal at EYOF, and the first Irish gymnast to win also a second medal at EYOF, he has made history — and done so as a product of the Gymnastics Ireland High Performance Squad Pathway. His performance is a clear reflection of the progress he's made through the national programme, and he remains firmly on track as a key prospect for this cycle. Congratulations to Chester, Origin Gymnastics Club, his coaches, and the entire HP team."

Commenting on the performance CEO of Gymnastics Ireland Mr. Ciaran Gallagher said:
"Superb and historic results delivered by our gymnasts out at EYOF! 10th place finish for the Men's Team, 16th place for the Women's Team, and 13th place in the first EYOF mixed team final from Chester and Roisin demonstrates the potential of these talented young gymnasts. This together with Finlay making vault final and of course Chester's superb podium performances taking Bronze on floor, and Gold on Vault truly make this a historic EYOF for Ireland and Gymnastics Ireland! I would like to congratulate and thank the entire team."

Congratulations to all gymnasts, coaches, judges and physio involved.

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