Samuel Wachter wins silver at junior European Championships
Saturday 22nd August 2026 on 16:45 in
Austria
Seventeen-year-old Samuel Wachter won silver in the vault final at the junior European Championships in Zagreb on Saturday, ORF reported. Ukrainian gymnast Valentyn Havrylchenko took gold.
Wachter scored 13.483 points after delivering two strong vaults in the final. The medal is only the third won by Turnsport Austria at a junior European Championships and the first for an athlete from Vorarlberg.
“It is incredible that I have now won silver. I never dreamed this would happen, and I am absolutely delighted,” Wachter said after the final. “Fortunately, I managed two excellent vaults at the decisive moment.”
National coach Michael Fussenegger praised Wachter’s composure. “We were in the final, where anything can happen. What is impressive, however, is how mentally strong Sammy is. He more than deserved this medal,” he said.
Wachter also won silver at the European Olympic Youth Festival in Skopje last year. “Major events seem to suit me,” he said.
His next event is the all-around final, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.