50 greatest Summer Olympians in history
By John Buhler
37. Alexei Nemov, Gymnastics.
Russian gymnast Alexei Nemov is one of the most decorated athletes in Summer Games history, having captured 12 medals — four gold, two silver, and six bronze — over two Olympiads (1996 in Atlanta, and 2000 in Sydney).
Nemov was one of the most complete gymnasts of his era, winning at a high level in several different individual events. He would medal in six different individual events before his retirement: vault, all-around, high bar, pommel horse, floor, and parallel bars.
Unfortunately, Nemov’s Olympic career came to a close in a controversial fashion, when Russian judges — spurred perhaps by their countries downward gymnastics spiral — awarded him favorable scores in spits of his declining abilities. Nemov was thrown headlong into the now-infamous, ultimately opting to retire shortly after the 2004 Athens Games.
Next: 36. Jackie Joyner-Kersee.