Tashkent, Uzbekistan — June 9, 2025 – In a moment that will be etched in Iranian gymnastics history, Mehdi Olfati soared to gold in the vault final at the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, claiming Iran’s first-ever gold medal in the competition’s history.
Iran NOC, Tehran: Olfati who topped the vault qualifications, delivered two
nice and powerful vaults in the final to score an impressive average of 14.500,
securing the top podium spot. Perhaps most remarkably, Olfati edged out a
star-studded field that included Carlos Yulo, the reigning Olympic champion
from the Philippines, who had to settle for bronze. The achievement marks a
major step forward for Iran in artistic gymnastics, a field traditionally
dominated by countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. With this gold,
Mehdi Olfati has not only vaulted onto the continental stage but also inspired
a new generation of Iranian gymnasts.