Nikolai Andrianov
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Yefimovich Andrianov (14 October 1952 – 21 March 2011) was a Soviet
/Russian
gymnast. He held the record for men for the most Olympic
medals at 15 (7 gold medals, 5 silver medals, 3 bronze medals) until Michael Phelps
surpassed him at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Andrianov is the third athlete (male or female) in cumulative Olympic medals after Phelps's 16 and Larisa Latynina, who earned 18 Olympic
medals and holds the overall medal record. Andrianov was the most medaled athlete at the 1976 Summer Olympics
. Within the sport of Men's Artistic Gymnastics
, he also holds the men's record for most individual Olympic medals (12) and shares the male record for most individual Olympic Gold medals in gymnastics (6), tied with Boris Shakhlin
and Dmitry Bilozerchev
(the latter of which only if you count the 1984 Alternate Olympics). In many other rankings among all-time medal winners at the Olympic, World, and European levels, he ranks very high, (for example, he is second only to Vitaly Scherbo
in total individual medal counts at either the gold level or any level at the combined Olympic and World levels as well as at the combined Olympic, World, and European levels) – easily making him one of the most decorated gymnasts of all-time.
Andrianov entered the Children and Youth Sports School
of the Burevestnik sports society in Vladimir at age 11. His trainer was the Honoured Trainer of the USSR Nikolai Tolkachyov. Andrianov's first international success was in 1971 at the European Championships in Madrid
, where he won two gold medals. Between 1971 and 1980 he won many international gymnastics competitions, including the Olympic Games, world championships and European championships.
Andrianov's first Olympic medal was a gold in the 1972 floor competition
. He dominated the 1976 gymnastics competition
, winning four golds, including the all-around, two silvers, and a bronze. These medals included golds in the floor exercises
, rings
, and vault
, as well as a prized gold in the 1976 all-around
. His record of four gymnastic golds at a single games stood until Vitaly Scherbo
won six in 1992.
Andrianov took the Olympic Oath
for athletes at the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow. In the gymnastics competition
, he won two more golds, two silvers, and a bronze. Andrianov's golds in that Olympics were in the vault
and team competition
, his silvers were in the all-around
and floor exercises
, and his bronze medal was in the horizontal bar
. He retired shortly after that year's Olympics.
. In 2001, Andrianov was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
. Between 1994 and 2002 he coached the Japan
Olympic gymnastics team, on the invitation of his former rival, Mitsuo Tsukahara
. Andrianov coached Tsukahara's son, Naoya Tsukahara
, and both father and son credit him with raising Naoya's skills and confidence to equip him to compete at the international level. In 2002 he became the director of gymnastics at the N.G. Tolkachyov Specialized Children and Youth sports school in Vladimir, where he first began the sport as a youth.
multiple system atrophy
and in his final months was unable to move his arms or legs or talk. Andrianov died on 21 March 2011 at the age of 58, in his hometown of Vladimir
. Russia's national gymnastic team coach, Alexander Alexandrov, called the death "tragic", but stated that he had been ill for a long time.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
/Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
gymnast. He held the record for men for the most Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medals at 15 (7 gold medals, 5 silver medals, 3 bronze medals) until Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
surpassed him at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Andrianov is the third athlete (male or female) in cumulative Olympic medals after Phelps's 16 and Larisa Latynina, who earned 18 Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medals and holds the overall medal record. Andrianov was the most medaled athlete at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
. Within the sport of Men's Artistic Gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
, he also holds the men's record for most individual Olympic medals (12) and shares the male record for most individual Olympic Gold medals in gymnastics (6), tied with Boris Shakhlin
Boris Shakhlin
Boris Anfiyanovich Shakhlin was a Soviet gymnast who was the 1960 Olympic all-around champion and the 1958 all-around World Champion. He won total of 13 medals including seven gold medals at the Summer Olympics, and was the most successful athlete at the 1960 Summer Olympics...
and Dmitry Bilozerchev
Dmitry Bilozerchev
Dmitry Vladimirovich Bilozerchev is a Soviet/Russian gymnast. One of the most accomplished gymnasts in history, he is a two-time World All-Around Champion and three-time Olympic Champion. He trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Moscow....
(the latter of which only if you count the 1984 Alternate Olympics). In many other rankings among all-time medal winners at the Olympic, World, and European levels, he ranks very high, (for example, he is second only to Vitaly Scherbo
Vitaly Scherbo
Vitaly Venediktovich Scherbo , born 13 January 1972 in Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, is a Belarusian and former Soviet artistic gymnast...
in total individual medal counts at either the gold level or any level at the combined Olympic and World levels as well as at the combined Olympic, World, and European levels) – easily making him one of the most decorated gymnasts of all-time.
Early life and Olympic career
Andrianov entered the Children and Youth Sports School
Children and Youth Sports School
Sports school is a type of educational institution for children that originated in the Soviet Union. Sports schools were the basis of the powerful system of physical culture and sports education of the USSR...
of the Burevestnik sports society in Vladimir at age 11. His trainer was the Honoured Trainer of the USSR Nikolai Tolkachyov. Andrianov's first international success was in 1971 at the European Championships in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, where he won two gold medals. Between 1971 and 1980 he won many international gymnastics competitions, including the Olympic Games, world championships and European championships.
Andrianov's first Olympic medal was a gold in the 1972 floor competition
Gymnastics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's floor
These are the results of the men's floor competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The qualification and final rounds took place on August 27, 29 and September 1 at the Sports Hall....
. He dominated the 1976 gymnastics competition
Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics
At the 1976 Summer Olympics, fourteen different artistic gymnastics events were contested, eight for men and six for women. All events were held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal from July 18 through 23rd....
, winning four golds, including the all-around, two silvers, and a bronze. These medals included golds in the floor exercises
Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's floor
These are the results of the men's floor competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The qualification and final rounds took place on July 18, 20, and 23rd at the Montreal Forum....
, rings
Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's rings
These are the results of the men's rings competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The qualification and final rounds took place on July 18, 20, and 23rd at the Montreal Forum....
, and vault
Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's vault
These are the results of the men's vault competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The qualification and final rounds took place on July 18, 20, and 23rd at the Montreal Forum....
, as well as a prized gold in the 1976 all-around
Gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's artistic individual all-around
These are the results of the men's individual all-around competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The qualification and final rounds took place on July 18, 20 and 21st at the Montreal Forum.-Qualification:Ninety gymnasts...
. His record of four gymnastic golds at a single games stood until Vitaly Scherbo
Vitaly Scherbo
Vitaly Venediktovich Scherbo , born 13 January 1972 in Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, is a Belarusian and former Soviet artistic gymnast...
won six in 1992.
Andrianov took the Olympic Oath
Olympic Oath
The Olympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Olympic competitors; and by one judge -- as a representative of each officiating Olympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games...
for athletes at the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow. In the gymnastics competition
Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics
At the 1980 Summer Olympics, fourteen different artistic gymnastics events were contested, eight for men and six for women. All events were held at the Sports Palace of the Central Lenin Stadium in Moscow from July 20 through 25th...
, he won two more golds, two silvers, and a bronze. Andrianov's golds in that Olympics were in the vault
Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's vault
These are the results of the men's vault competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow...
and team competition
Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's artistic team all-around
These are the results of the men's team all-around competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow...
, his silvers were in the all-around
Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's artistic individual all-around
These are the results of the men's individual all-around competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow...
and floor exercises
Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's floor
These are the results of the men's floor competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow...
, and his bronze medal was in the horizontal bar
Gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's horizontal bar
These are the results of the men's horizontal bar competition, one of eight events for male competitors in artistic gymnastics at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The qualification and final rounds took place on July 20, 22 and 25th at the Sports Palace at the Central Lenin...
. He retired shortly after that year's Olympics.
Later life
Andrianov married another famous Soviet gymnast, two-time Olympic champion Lyubov BurdaLyubov Burda
Lyubov Viktorovna Burda is a Russian artistic gymnast who competed for the Soviet Union. She was a member of the Soviet team who won the Team gold medal at the 1970 World Championships. Individually, she is the 1970 World bronze medalist on vault, a medal she tied for with teammate Ludmilla...
. In 2001, Andrianov was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, located in Oklahoma City, USA, is a hall of fame dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of the world's greatest competitors, coaches and authorities in artistic gymnastics....
. Between 1994 and 2002 he coached the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Olympic gymnastics team, on the invitation of his former rival, Mitsuo Tsukahara
Mitsuo Tsukahara
Mitsuo Tsukahara is a Japanese artistic gymnast. He was five times an Olympic Gold Medalist. His remained active in the sport after his retirement from competition...
. Andrianov coached Tsukahara's son, Naoya Tsukahara
Naoya Tsukahara
Naoya Tsukahara is a Japanese artistic gymnast and Olympic Gold Medalist. He is the son of the former Japanese gymnast, Mitsuo Tsukahara, who was also a multi Gold Medalist in Olympic Games...
, and both father and son credit him with raising Naoya's skills and confidence to equip him to compete at the international level. In 2002 he became the director of gymnastics at the N.G. Tolkachyov Specialized Children and Youth sports school in Vladimir, where he first began the sport as a youth.
Illness and death
In his final years, Andrianov developed the degenerative neurological disorderNeurological disorder
A neurological disorder is a disorder of the body's nervous system. Structural, biochemical or electrical abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord, or in the nerves leading to or from them, can result in symptoms such as paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures,...
multiple system atrophy
Multiple system atrophy
Multiple system atrophy is a degenerative neurological disorder. MSA is associated with the degeneration of nerve cells in specific areas of the brain. This cell degeneration causes problems with movement, balance and other autonomic functions of the body such as bladder control or blood pressure...
and in his final months was unable to move his arms or legs or talk. Andrianov died on 21 March 2011 at the age of 58, in his hometown of Vladimir
Vladimir
Vladimir is a city and the administrative center of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River, to the east of Moscow along the M7 motorway. Population:...
. Russia's national gymnastic team coach, Alexander Alexandrov, called the death "tragic", but stated that he had been ill for a long time.
Achievements (non-Olympic)
| Year | Event | AA | Team | FX Floor (gymnastics) In gymnastics, the floor refers to a specially prepared exercise surface, which is considered an apparatus. It is used by both male and female gymnasts. The event in gymnastics performed on floor is called floor exercise. The English abbreviation for the event in gymnastics scoring is FX.A spring... |
PH | RG Rings (gymnastics) The rings, also known as still rings , is an artistic gymnastics apparatus and the event that uses it. It is traditionally used only by male gymnasts, due to its extreme upper-body strength requirements... |
VT Vault (gymnastics) The vault is an artistic gymnastics apparatus, as well as the skill performed using that apparatus. Vaulting is also the action of performing a vault. Both male and female gymnasts perform the vault... |
PB Parallel bars (gymnastics) Parallel bars is an apparatus used by male gymnasts in artistic gymnastics. Gymnasts may optionally wear grips when performing a routine on the parallel bars, although this is uncommon.- The apparatus :... |
HB Horizontal bar The high bar, also known as the horizontal bar, is an apparatus used by male gymnasts in Artistic Gymnastics. It traditionally consists of a cylindrical metal bar that is rigidly held above and parallel to the floor by a system of cables and stiff vertical supports. Gymnasts typically wear leather... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | European Championships | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | ||
| USSR Championships | 1st | ||||||||
| 1972 | USSR Championships | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | |
| USSR Cup | 1st | ||||||||
| 1973 | European Championships | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | |||
| University Games 1973 Summer Universiade The 1973 Summer Universiade, also known as the VII Summer Universiade, took place in Moscow, USSR.-Medal table:-Sports and venues at the 1973 Summer Universiade :... |
1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||||
| USSR Championships | 1st | ||||||||
| 1974 | World Championships 1974 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships The 18th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Varna, Bulgaria, in 1974.-Medals:-All-around:- Floor exercise :-Pommel horse:-Rings:-Vault:-Parallel bars:-Horizontal bar:-Team final:-All-around:- Vault :... |
2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | ||
| USSR Championships | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st | ||||
| USSR Cup | 1st | ||||||||
| 1975 | World Cup | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | ||||
| European Championships | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | |||
| USSR Championships | 1st | 1st | |||||||
| 1977 | World Cup | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | |||
| 1978 | World Championships 1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships The 19th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Strasbourg, France, in 1978 from October 23 to October 29.The new rule was introduced: eight gymnasts competed in each of the apparatus finals.... |
1st | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | |||
| USSR Cup | 3rd | ||||||||
| 1979 | World Championships 1979 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships The 20th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Fort Worth, USA, in 1979. In November 1977 the 55th FIG Congress, held in Rome, changed the cycle of world championships: since 1979 they were to be held each two years, and the pre-Olympic ones were to be qualifications for the Olympic... |
1st | 2nd | ||||||
| USSR Championships | 3rd | 3rd |
See also
- List of multiple Olympic medalists
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
- List of multiple Olympic medalists at a single Games
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games