Other names: DITIATIN, Aleksandr

Born: 7 August 1957

Birthplace: St. Petersburg (Russia)

Nationality: Russia

Sport: Gymnastics

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Montreal 1976

Moscow 1980

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 3

Silver: 6

Bronze: 1

Other results:

World Championships

6 Gold: 6 (79, 81)

Silver: 3 (78, 81)

Bronze: 2 (78, 79)

Eight Medals At One Olympics

Handsome Aleksandr Dityatin first appeared at the Olympics in 1976, winning a silver medal in the gymnastics team event. He also placed fourth in the individual all-around event, missing a medal by only five hundredths of a point. In Montréal, Dityatin qualified for two apparatus finals, earning a silver medal on the rings and placing sixth on the pommel horse. Competing before a hometown crowd in Moscow at the 1980 Olympics, Dityatin led the Soviet Union to the team championship and then won the individual all-around title. He also qualified for all six apparatus finals. On 25 July, 1980, Dityatin won six medals in one day, taking the gold on the rings and silvers on the horizontal bar, parallel bars and pommel horse and in the vault event. He also earned a bronze medal in the floor exercise. Dityatin is the athlete in Olympic history to win eight medals in one Olympic Games. He was also the first male gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of ten in an Olympic competition, a feat he accomplished in the long horse vault.