Akinori Nakayama

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]

Akinori Nakayama 中山彰規
Akinori Nakayama in 1966
Personal information
Country represented	Japan
Born	(1943-03-01) March 1, 1943 Nagoya, Empire of Japan
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Discipline	Men's artistic gymnastics
Medal record Olympic Games 1968 Mexico City Team 1968 Mexico City Rings 1968 Mexico City Parallel bars 1968 Mexico City Horizontal bar 1972 Munich Team 1972 Munich Rings 1968 Mexico City Floor exercise 1972 Munich Floor exercise 1968 Mexico City All-around 1972 Munich All-around World Championships 1966 Dortmund Team 1966 Dortmund Floor 1966 Dortmund Horizontal bar 1970 Ljubljana Team 1970 Ljubljana Floor 1970 Ljubljana Rings 1970 Ljubljana Parallel bars 1966 Dortmund Rings 1970 Ljubljana Horizontal bar 1966 Dortmund All-around 1966 Dortmund Vault 1970 Ljubljana All-around

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]