Japanese gymnastics great Nakayama dies aged 82

TOKYO: Japanese gymnast Akinori Nakayama, who won six Olympic gold medals and gave his name to a ring manoeuvre still performed by top competitors, has died aged 82, officials said.

Nakayama won 10 medals including six golds at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and the 1972 Munich Games. His eponymous ring-swinging technique -- the “Nakayama” -- has since become an aspiration for many gymnasts worldwide.

Nakayama died on March 9, the Japan Gymnastics Association said Monday, with local media citing stomach cancer as the cause. “We hereby express our sincere condolences,” the association said. Nakayama also won 12 medals at the gymnastics world championships, including seven golds.