10 Facts About Yuri Korolyov

Yuri Nikolayevich Korolyov was a Soviet artistic gymnast who competed during the 1980s, winning many World and European Medals.

Part of a deep Soviet team that, throughout the 1980s, featured such names as Dmitry Bilozerchev, Valeri Liukin, Vladimir Artemov, Valentin Mogilny, and others, Korolyov still managed to distinguish himself for the greater part of the decade by becoming World All-Around Champion in 1981 and 1985, as well as being World Cup All-Around Co-Champion in 1986, among many other titles and medals.

Yuri Korolyov was no less successful at that year's World Championships in Moscow, where his consistent, strong performances won him the All-Around Champion title.

Yuri Korolyov was the youngest Men's World All-Around Artistic Gymnastics Champion up to that point.

Yuri Korolyov would take 5 out of a possible 6 medals in the event finals.

Yuri Korolyov did manage to place 2nd to Bilozerchev in the All-Around at that year's European Championships in Varna, as well as winning 2 event titles.

In 1984, any hopes Yuri Korolyov would have realistically entertained about any Olympic successes were dashed by the Soviet-led boycott, and then his father's death prevented him from participating in the Alternate Olympics that year.

Yuri Korolyov logged the highest 6-event composite score in the preliminaries as well as again in the All-Around final, truly dominating the competition.

Yuri Korolyov almost made that year's World Championship team for the Soviets, but with yet more up-and comers in the Soviet system like Vitaly Marinich and Valery Belenky, he placed 7th at that year's USSR Championships and then retired.

Yuri Korolyov is, quite arguably, the most decorated non-Olympian gymnast of all time.