Gymnastics all-around champions by age explained

Prior to 1981, the minimum required age to compete in senior events sanctioned by the FIG was 14.[1] The earliest champions in women's gymnastics tended to be in their 20s; most had studied ballet for years before entering the sport. Hungarian gymnast Ágnes Keleti won individual gold medals at the age of 35 at the 1956 Olympics. Larisa Latynina, the first great Soviet gymnast, won her first Olympic all-around medal at the age of 21, her second at 25 and her third at 29; she became the 1958 World Champion while pregnant with her daughter.[2] Czech gymnast Věra Čáslavská, who followed Latynina to become a two-time Olympic all-around champion, was 22 before she started winning gold medals at the highest level of the sport, and won her final Olympic all-around title at the age of 26.[3]

In the 1970s, the average age of Olympic gymnastics competitors began to gradually decrease. While it was not unheard of for teenagers to compete in the 1960s — Ludmilla Tourischeva was sixteen at her first Olympics in 1968 — they slowly became the norm, as difficulty in gymnastics increased.[4]

List of Olympic all-around champions

Olympic all-around champions 1952–2020- Women
NameYearDate of birthAge at Olympics
Maria Gorokhovskayaalign=center 1952align=center October 27, 1921align=center
Larisa Latyninaalign=center 1956align=center December 27, 1934align=center
Larisa Latyninaalign=center 1960align=center December 27, 1934align=center
Věra Čáslavskáalign=center 1964align=center May 3, 1942align=center
Věra Čáslavskáalign=center 1968align=center May 3, 1942align=center
Ludmilla Tourischevaalign=center 1972align=center July 10, 1952align=center
Nadia Comănecialign=center 1976align=center November 12, 1961align=center
Yelena Davydovaalign=center 1980align=center August 7, 1961align=center
Mary Lou Rettonalign=center 1984align=center January 24, 1968align=center
Yelena Shushunovaalign=center 1988align=center April 23, 1969align=center
Tatiana Gutsualign=center 1992align=center September 5, 1976align=center
Lilia Podkopayevaalign=center 1996align=center August 15, 1978align=center
Andreea Răducanalign=center 2000align=center September 30, 1983align=center
Carly Pattersonalign=center 2004align=center February 4, 1988align=center
Nastia Liukinalign=center 2008align=center October 30, 1989align=center
Gabrielle Douglasalign=center 2012align=center December 31, 1995align=center
Simone Bilesalign=center 2016align=center March 14, 1997align=center
Sunisa Leealign=center 2021align=center March 9, 2003align=center
Simone Bilesalign=center 2024align=center March 14, 1997align=center
Olympic all-around champions 1952–2020 – Men
NameYearDate of birthAge at Olympics
Viktor Chukarinalign=center 1952align=center November 9, 1921align=center
Viktor Chukarinalign=center 1956align=center November 9, 1921align=center
Boris Shakhlinalign=center 1960align=center January 27, 1932align=center
Yukio Endoalign=center 1964align=center January 18, 1937align=center
Sawao Katoalign=center 1968align=center October 11, 1946align=center
Sawao Katoalign=center 1972align=center October 11, 1946align=center
Nikolai Andrianovalign=center 1976align=center October 14, 1952align=center
Alexander Dityatinalign=center 1980align=center August 7, 1957align=center
Koji Gushikenalign=center 1984align=center November 12, 1956align=center
Vladimir Artemovalign=center 1988align=center December 7, 1964align=center
Vitaly Scherboalign=center 1992align=center January 13, 1972align=center
Li Xiaoshuangalign=center 1996align=center November 1, 1973align=center
Alexei Nemovalign=center 2000align=center May 28, 1976align=center
Paul Hammalign=center 2004align=center September 24, 1982align=center
Yang Weialign=center 2008align=center February 8, 1980align=center
Kohei Uchimuraalign=center 2012align=center January 3, 1989align=center
Kohei Uchimuraalign=center 2016align=center January 3, 1989align=center
Daiki Hashimotoalign=center 2020align=center August 7, 2001align=center

NB: The "age at Olympics" is calculated from the first day of Olympics gymnastics competition, if available; or the date of the Olympics opening ceremonies.

Notes and References

  1. September 1980 . Within the International Federations . Olympic Review . 155 . 520 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080529190307/http://www.la84foundation.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1980/ore155/ORE155p.pdf . 2008-05-29 . 2006-04-11 .
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20061027054302/http://www.intlgymnast.com/legends/latynina.html "Legends: Larissa Latynina"
  3. Web site: Vera Čáslavská: The heroine of Mexico. International Olympic Committee. 2008-07-01. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060504165921/http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=16525. 2006-05-04.
  4. Book: Ryan, Joan . Little Girls in Pretty Boxes . Doubleday . Garden City . 1995 . 978-0-385-47790-1 . registration .

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