Nikolai Andrianov

Who was Nikolai Andrianov?

Nikolai Yefimovich Andrianov was a Soviet/Russian gymnast. He held the record for men for the most Olympic medals at 15 until Michael Phelps surpassed him at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. Andrianov is the third athlete in cumulative Olympic medals after Phelps's 22 and Larisa Latynina, who earned 18. Andrianov won the most medals at the 1976 Summer Olympics with 6 individual medals and one team medal. Within the sport of Men's Artistic Gymnastics, he also holds the men's record for most individual Olympic medals and shares the male record for most individual Olympic Gold medals in gymnastics, tied with Boris Shakhlin and Dmitry Bilozerchev. In many other rankings among all-time medal winners at the Olympic, World, and European levels, he ranks very high, – easily making him one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time.