Akinori Nakayama
Japanese gymnast (1943–2025)
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Akinori Nakayama (中山 彰規, Nakayama Akinori; March 1, 1943 – March 9, 2025) was 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 three gymnasts to become an Olympic Champion in rings twice.[1]
| Akinori Nakayama 中山彰規 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nakayama in 1966 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | March 1, 1943 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | March 9, 2025 (aged 82) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gymnastics career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Men's artistic gymnastics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country represented | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Biography
Nakayama 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]
Nakayama died from stomach cancer on March 9, 2025, at the age of 82.[4]
Competitive history
| Year | Event | Team | AA | FX | PH | SR | VT | PB | HB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | |||||||||
| Summer Universiade |  | | |||||||
| 1966 | |||||||||
| World Championships | |  | |  | | | |||
| 1967 | |||||||||
| All Japan Championships | | ||||||||
| NHK Trophy | | ||||||||
| Summer Universiade | | | |||||||
| 1968 | All Japan Championships | | |||||||
| Olympic Games | | | | 12 | | 5 | | | |
| 1969 | NHK Trophy | | |||||||
| 1970 | All Japan Championships | | |||||||
| NHK Trophy | | ||||||||
| World Championships | | | | | 6 | | | ||
| 1971 | All Japan Championships | | |||||||
| 1972 | |||||||||
| Summer Olympics | | | | 7 | | 12 | 5 | 5 |
