Japanese gymnastics Olympic champion Nakayama dies aged 82

Japanese gymnastics Olympic champion Nakayama dies aged 82

Japanese gymnast Akinori Nakayama, who won six Olympic gold medals and gave his name to a ring manoeuvre still performed by top competitors, has died aged 82, officials said.

Nakayama won 10 medals including six golds at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and the 1972 Munich Games.

His eponymous ring-swinging technique — the “Nakayama” — has since become an aspiration for many gymnasts worldwide.

Nakayama died on March 9, the Japan Gymnastics Association said Monday, with local media citing stomach cancer as the cause. “We hereby express our sincere condolences,” the association said.

Nakayama made his Olympic debut at the 1968 Mexico City Games, where he contributed to Japan’s men’s all-around team gold and took individual all-around bronze.

At the Munich Olympics, he won another team all-around and rings gold, while repeating as floor exercise silver medalist and individual all-around bronze medalist.

Nakayama also won 12 medals at the gymnastics world championships, including seven golds. Nakayama is one of only three gymnasts to become an Olympic Champion in rings twice (1968 and 1972).

Later a vice-president for the Japanese Gymnastics Federation, Nakayama was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2005.