Akinori Nakayama

The native form of this personal name is Nakayama Akinori. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Akinori Nakayama
中山彰規
Nakayama in 1966
Personal information
Born(1943-03-01)March 1, 1943
Nagoya, Japan
DiedMarch 9, 2025(2025-03-09) (aged 82)
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Gymnastics career
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Country
represented		 Japan
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City Team
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City Rings
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City Parallel bars
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City Horizontal bar
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich Team
Gold medal – first place 1972 Munich Rings
Silver medal – second place 1968 Mexico City Floor exercise
Silver medal – second place 1972 Munich Floor exercise
Bronze medal – third place 1968 Mexico City All-around
Bronze medal – third place 1972 Munich All-around
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1966 Dortmund Team
Gold medal – first place 1966 Dortmund Floor
Gold medal – first place 1966 Dortmund Horizontal bar
Gold medal – first place 1970 Ljubljana Team
Gold medal – first place 1970 Ljubljana Floor
Gold medal – first place 1970 Ljubljana Rings
Gold medal – first place 1970 Ljubljana Parallel bars
Silver medal – second place 1966 Dortmund Rings
Silver medal – second place 1970 Ljubljana Horizontal bar
Bronze medal – third place 1966 Dortmund All-around
Bronze medal – third place 1966 Dortmund Vault
Bronze medal – third place 1970 Ljubljana All-around

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]

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 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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akinori Nakayama.
  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.
  4. ^ "Gymnastics:Japan's 6-time Olympic gold medalist Akinori Nakayama dies at 82". Kyodo News. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
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