Akinori Nakayama

Akinori Nakayama
中山彰規
Akinori Nakayama in 1966
Personal information
Country represented Japan
Born (1943-03-01) March 1, 1943 (age 81)
Nagoya, Empire of Japan
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Medal record

Akinori Nakayama (中山 彰規, Nakayama Akinori, born March 1, 1943) is a Japanese gymnast and Olympic gold medalist. Nakayama was born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and is a graduate of Chukyo University in Nagoya. Nakayama is one of only two gymnasts to become an Olympic Champion in rings twice, the first to do so being Albert Azaryan.[1]

Background

He won six medals at the World Championships in 1966, including three gold medals in the team all-around, the floor exercise and the horizontal bar. Two years later, with four gold, one silver and one bronze medals he became the most successful male athlete at the 1968 Summer Olympics. In 1970, he won another four world titles: in team competition, on rings, floor and parallel bars. He won four more medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics.[2]

After retirement he was the vice-president of the Japanese Gymnastics Federation.[2] He also served as a gymnastics coach at his alma mater, Chukyo University.[1] In 2005, he was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.[3]

Competitive history

Year Event Team AA FX PH SR VT PB HB
1965
Summer Universiade 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1966
World Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1967
All Japan Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s)
NHK Trophy 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Summer Universiade 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1968 All Japan Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Olympic Games 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 12 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1969 NHK Trophy 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1970 All Japan Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s)
NHK Trophy 1st place, gold medalist(s)
World Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
1971 All Japan Championships 1st place, gold medalist(s)
1972
Summer Olympics 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 1st place, gold medalist(s) 12 5 5

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "中山彰規" [Akinori Nakayama]. Nihon Jinmei Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  2. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Akinori Nakayama". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
  3. ^ "AKINORI NAKAYAMA". International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 19 May 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2007.