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50 greatest Summer Olympians in history

By John Buhler

Nov 22, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; A detailed view of the American flag during the national anthem prior to the Thanksgiving day game between the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; A detailed view of the American flag during the national anthem prior to the Thanksgiving day game between the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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25. Akinori Nakayama, Gymnastics.

Japanese gymnast Akinori Nakayama remains one of the most decorated athletes in Japanese history, winning a total of 10 medals home six medals — six in Mexico City in 1968, and four more in Munich in 1972.

Nakayama won four times at the ’68 Games, winning gold in the team competition, the horizontal bar, rings, and the parallel bar, along with a silver in the floor exercise and a bronze in the all-around.

Nakayama earned for more medals in Munich, taking home gold in the team competition and individually in the rings. Like he had in the Mexico City Games four years prior, Nakayama would finish second in the floor exercise and third in the all-around.

To date, Nakayama is one of only two Olympic gymnasts to win two gold medals on rings (the first being Armenian Albert Azaryan). Nakayama would go on to serve as the head coach of his alma mater’s gymnastics team at Chukyo University, earning enshrinement into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2005.

Next: 24. Daley Thompson.

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