Akinori Nakayama has died, gymnastics mourns one of its legends

Akinori Nakayama è passed away at'age 82

Gymnastics mourns one of its legends: Akinori Nakayama è passed away at the age of 82 from the consequences of stomach cancer. The news è was released only in these hours by the Japan Gymnastics Association and the Japanese media: these specified that Nakayama è died last March 9 and the funeral has already been held privately.

Akinori Nakayama è known for dominating the Olympic competitions in Mexico City 1968 and Munich 1972: as many as six total gold medals (bars, parallel bars, rings and team competition in Mexico, rings and team competition in Germany), two silvers (floor exercise in both editions), as many bronzes (individual competition, both in Mexico City and Munich).

Nakayama's sporting legacy also passes through a movement that bears his name and is still performed by gymnasts around the world at the Olympic level. At the national level è he is also the second most ever in the number of gold medals won at the Games , behind another gymnast, Sawao Kato, who won eight between 1968 and 1976.

As for the total number of medals in the Five Circles events, however, Akinori Nakayama è still ranks third Japanese overall with 10, behind Sawao Kato, who è stood on the podium 12 times (8 golds, 3 silvers, one bronze), and a gymnast of the previous generation, Takashi Ono, who between 1952 and 1964 won 5 golds, 4 silvers and 4 bronzes, for a total of 13 medals.