Douglas Gymnastics Club trio set for European Championship stage in Zagreb

Douglas Gymnastics Club will be represented on the international stage this week and next as three of its gymnasts prepare to compete at the 2026 European Gymnastics Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.

One of the largest gymnastics clubs in the country, with more than 2,000 members, Douglas GC will have athletes competing in both the senior and junior championships as Europe’s top gymnasts gather for the event.

Leading the way is Mimi Moloney, who will line out for the Irish senior women’s team. The talented 16-year-old will compete in the all-around competition, taking to the floor, bars, beam, and vault as she continues a remarkable rise through the ranks.

Moloney heads to Zagreb in outstanding form following a breakthrough performance at the Šalamunov Memorial European Gymnastics event in Slovenia, where she claimed the overall senior all-around gold medal.

She produced a series of superb routines to finish top of the standings with a score of 49.798, overcoming strong opposition from across Europe. She qualified for every apparatus final before adding two bronze medals in the vault and beam finals to her impressive haul.

For an athlete still only 16 years of age, it marked one of the most significant achievements of her young career and confirmed her status as one of Ireland’s brightest gymnastics prospects. Moloney is also the reigning Irish senior beam champion, further underlining her credentials ahead of the European Championships.

The men’s competitions will also feature strong Douglas representation.

Dan Fox has earned selection on the Irish senior men’s team and will compete on the rings apparatus, looking to make his mark against some of Europe’s top specialists.

Meanwhile, Jerry Balazs will compete for Austria in the junior men’s championship. Balazs will contest the all-around competition, showcasing his abilities across floor, vault, high bar, pommel horse, rings and parallel bars.

The 2026 European Championships promise to be one of the biggest gymnastics events ever staged, with four major competitions taking place over a 10-day period in Zagreb. For the first time in the event’s history, prize money will be available for gymnasts and their coaches, while the championships will also host a scientific and professional conference linking sport, education and research.

The women’s competition begins on Thursday, August 13, with Moloney aiming to help Team Ireland make a strong start in the senior qualification event, which also decides the all-around medals.

The men’s championships get underway on Wednesday, August 19, when Fox competes in senior qualification, while Balazs takes part in the junior qualification competition the following day.

For Douglas Gymnastics Club, the presence of three athletes on one of Europe’s biggest stages is another significant milestone and reflects the strength of the programme being developed at the Cork club.

"Having three gymnasts competing at a European Championships is a fantastic achievement for Douglas Gymnastics Club and a testament to the dedication of the athletes, coaches and families involved. The entire club will be cheering them on as they represent their countries," a spokesperson for the club said.