dismount
from the IG photo files…
T
HE
C
OMPLETE
G
YMNAST
H
E had it all: style, line, amplitude, and
the tricks to show them off. But Russia’s
Alexei Nemov had something else. He pos-
sessed a potent combination of showmanship
and sportsmanship, which endeared him to
crowds everywhere.
As a boy of 16, Nemov made his world
championship debut in 1993 in Birmingham,
England (photos here), where he won no
medals but gained attention for his form and
difficulty (full-twisting Tkatchev; inset photo).
Coached by Yevgeny Nikolko, Nemov compet-
ed in the next nine worlds and won 13 medals:
five gold, four silver and four bronze.
Nemov’s Olympic career, which spanned
three games (1996-2004), was just as impres-
sive. He won 12 medals at Atlanta 1996 and
Sydney 2000, combined: two gold, one silver
and three bronze in each games. His all-
around triumph in Sydney — the highlight of
his career — represented a remarkable resur-
gence after various injuries had hampered his
results after the Atlanta Olympics.
Today, Nemov, 31, and his wife, Galina,
raise 7-year-old son Alexei Jr. in Russia.
Nemov also continues to reach crowds through
his performances in gymnastics shows.
EILEEN LANGSLEY/IG (2)
Cover
IFC
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