Dmitry Bilozerchev

Dmitry Bilozerchev
Dmitry Bilozerchev in 1987
Personal information
Full nameDmitry Vladimirovich Bilozerchev
Country represented Soviet Union
Born (1966-12-22) 22 December 1966 (age 57)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
ClubCSKA Moscow
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Team competition
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Rings
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Seoul All-around
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1983 Budapest All-around
Gold medal – first place 1983 Budapest Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1983 Budapest Still rings
Gold medal – first place 1983 Budapest High bar
Gold medal – first place 1987 Rotterdam Team competition
Gold medal – first place 1987 Rotterdam All-around
Gold medal – first place 1987 Rotterdam Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1987 Rotterdam High bar
Silver medal – second place 1983 Budapest Team competition
Silver medal – second place 1983 Budapest Floor exercise
Silver medal – second place 1987 Rotterdam Still rings
Silver medal – second place 1987 Rotterdam Parallel bars
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1983 Varna All-around
Gold medal – first place 1983 Varna Still rings
Gold medal – first place 1983 Varna Vault
Gold medal – first place 1983 Varna High bar
Gold medal – first place 1985 Oslo All-around
Gold medal – first place 1985 Oslo Floor exercise
Gold medal – first place 1985 Oslo Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1985 Oslo Still rings
Gold medal – first place 1985 Oslo Parallel bars
Gold medal – first place 1985 Oslo High bar
Silver medal – second place 1985 Oslo Vault
Friendship Games
Gold medal – first place 1984 Olomouc Team competition
Gold medal – first place 1984 Olomouc All-around
Gold medal – first place 1984 Olomouc High bar
Gold medal – first place 1984 Olomouc Pommel horse
Gold medal – first place 1984 Olomouc Still rings
Bronze medal – third place 1984 Olomouc Vault

Dmitry Vladimirovich Bilozerchev (Russian: Дмитрий Владимирович Билозерчев, born 22 December 1966 in Moscow) is a Russian gymnastics coach and retired gymnast who represented the Soviet Union. One of the most accomplished gymnasts in history, he is a two-time World All-Around Champion and three-time Olympic Champion. He trained at the Armed Forces sports society in Moscow.[1]

Known for his exemplary form, style, and technique, in 1983 Bilozerchev became the youngest men's World All-Around Champion in history. He then went on to win 5 gold medals at the 1984 Friendship Games, which served as the alternate Olympic Games for the communist nations that boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The following year, he shattered his leg in 41 places in a car crash. The injury was so devastating that doctors were going to amputate the limb were it not for his status as World Champion. In a remarkable comeback, Bilozerchev went on to reclaim his title as World All-Around Champion in 1987 even though his leg was never the same. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, he won gold medals in the pommel horse, still rings, and in the team competition. He took bronze in the All-Around competition after a mistake on the horizontal bar. Had the competition been held under the new life rule, where all previous scores are dropped, he would have won the gold medal over teammate Vladimir Artemov.[2]

In 1993, he moved to the United States. Together with his wife he owns "The United Sports Academy" in Beaverton, Oregon, where he coaches gymnastics.[3] His son Aleksey and daughter Alice are also artistic gymnasts.[4] In 2003, he was inducted to the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.[5]

References

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  1. ^ (in Russian) Great Olympic Encyclopedia, vol.1–2, Moscow: Olympia Press Publisher, 2006, entry on "Билозерчев", available online[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ Dmitry Bilozerchev Archived 2009-05-22 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  3. ^ unitedsportsacademy.tripod.com
  4. ^ Bilozertchev: The U.S.’s new secret agent? gymblog.wordpress.com (2007-08-28)
  5. ^ "DIMITRI BILOZERTCHEV". International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
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