01In brief
Denis Loktev is an Israeli competitive swimmer who specializes in freestyle events, particularly the 200-meter freestyle. He represented Israel at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (held in 2021) and the 2024 Paris Olympics, and won a bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games. At Paris, he helped Israel's men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay reach the country's first Olympic final in the event.
02Career
Loktev first gained international recognition at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games, where he won a bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle.[1] Reflecting on the experience after watching Israeli teammate Anastasia Gorbenko claim gold at the same Games, he said: "I felt… excited, I'm very proud because it's a small country."[1]
He was included in Israel's swimming delegation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which were held in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, competing in the men's 200-meter freestyle alongside a squad that included Gorbenko, Ron Polonsky, Yaakov Toumarkin, Michael Leitrovsky, Andi Murez, and others.[2][3]
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Loktev competed across multiple events. In the individual 200-meter freestyle, he finished sixth in his heat and 14th overall to advance to the semifinal, where he finished last and did not qualify for the final.[4] He also swam on Israel's 4×100-meter freestyle relay team alongside Tomer Frankel, Gal Cohen Groumi, and Alexey Glivinskiy; the quartet finished 14th overall and did not advance.[5]
Loktev continued to compete after Paris. At the 2025 World Swimming Championships in Singapore, he recorded a split of 1:47.02 as part of Israel's 4×200-meter freestyle relay. The quartet set a national record of 7:06.26 — more than two seconds faster than the record set at the Paris Olympics — and advanced to the final.[6] At the 2026 European Swimming Championships, Loktev finished 18th in the 200-meter freestyle in 1:47.21 and was listed as first reserve for the semifinals.[7]
03Legacy
Loktev's 4×200-meter freestyle relay performance at Paris marked a first for Israeli Olympic swimming. In the qualifying heat, Loktev, Bar Soloveychik, Eitan Ben Shitrit, and Gal Cohen Groumi recorded 7:08.43, tying Japan for eighth place and advancing to the final — Israel's first Olympic final in that event and its first swimming final of the Paris Games.[8]
In the final, Ben Shitrit was replaced by Tomer Frankel, and the team of Loktev, Soloveychik, Frankel, and Cohen Groumi finished ninth and last in 7:10.22.[9]
Sources
- 1The Times of Israel (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 2Jewish Virtual Library (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 3The Times of Israel (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 4The Times of Israel (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 5The Times of Israel (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 6Ynet News (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 7Ynet News (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 8The Times of Israel (accessed September 16, 2026)
- 9The Times of Israel (accessed September 16, 2026)
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
Who is Denis Loktev?
Denis Loktev is an Israeli competitive swimmer who specializes in freestyle events, particularly the 200-meter freestyle. He represented Israel at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics, and won a bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games.
What medal did Denis Loktev win at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games?
Denis Loktev won a bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games. Reflecting on the experience, he said: "I felt… excited, I'm very proud because it's a small country."
How did Denis Loktev perform at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Loktev competed in the individual 200-meter freestyle, reaching the semifinal before finishing last and failing to qualify for the final. He also swam on Israel's 4×100-meter freestyle relay team, which finished 14th overall and did not advance.
What historic achievement did Denis Loktev help Israel reach at the Paris Olympics?
Denis Loktev helped Israel's men's 4×200-meter freestyle relay team reach the country's first Olympic final in that event, and its first swimming final of the Paris Games. In the qualifying heat, Loktev, Bar Soloveychik, Eitan Ben Shitrit, and Gal Cohen Groumi recorded a time of 7:08.43, tying Japan for eighth place to advance. The team ultimately finished ninth and last in the final with a time of 7:10.22.
How did Denis Loktev and Israel's relay team perform at the 2025 World Swimming Championships?
At the 2025 World Swimming Championships in Singapore, Denis Loktev recorded a split of 1:47.02 as part of Israel's 4×200-meter freestyle relay. The quartet set a national record of 7:06.26 — more than two seconds faster than the record set at the Paris Olympics — and advanced to the final.