Alexander Shatilov- Sportsmen of the Year in Israel

2013 European Floor champion Alexander Shatilov (ISR) was named "Sportsman of the Year" by The Olympic Committee of Israel earlier this week. At the European Championships in Moscow in April, Shatilov, (26), became the first senior Israeli gymnast to win a gold medal in gymnastics, tying for the Floor title with Britain's Max Whitlock. Uzbek-born Shatilov immigrated to Israel in 2002. Four years later, he became the first Israeli gymnast to qualify for an event final at a World Championships, placing seventh on Floor in Aarhus (DEN). It was just the beginning: In 2009, Shatilov earned a historic bronze medal on floor at the World Championships in London (GBR), becoming the first-ever Israeli gymnast ever to medal at Worlds. After a knee injury sidelined him early in 2010, Shatilov rebounded to win his second bronze on Floor at the 2011 Worlds, qualifying to the 2012 Olympic Games at the same time. In London, the tall, versatile Shatilov finished 12th All-around and qualified to the Floor final tied for fourth place, but dropped to sixth during the medal round. An ankle injury kept him from competing at the 2013 Worlds in Antwerp (BEL), but Shatilov is already preparing for the 2014 season, where he hopes to defend his European title on floor.