Ivan Ivankov

Gymnastics career

Ivankov first gained notice at the 1991 Junior European Championships in Greece, winning the all-around, pommel horse, high bar, vault, and rings, and taking silver on floor. After the Soviet Union dissolved, he represented Belarus. At the 1992 Junior European Championships he helped the Belarusian team to gold, and at the senior European Championships in Budapest he placed 13th in the all-around. His first World Championships came in 1993, where he earned a bronze on rings.

In 1994 he won the all-around gold at the World Championships in Brisbane, defeating reigning Olympic champion Vitaly Scherbo, and also won his first senior European all-around title. During vault competition in Brisbane he injured his Achilles tendon, causing him to miss the 1995 World Championships. He recovered to win a second European all-around title in 1996 and was considered a medal contender for the 1996 Olympics, but his Achilles snapped while he was walking across a parking lot in Atlanta, ending his Olympic participation. After reconstructive surgery, muscle grafts, and months of therapy, he returned to win his second all-around gold at the 1997 World Championships.

At the 2000 Olympics he finished 4th in the all-around and 5th on parallel bars and still rings. In 2001 he led Belarus to the team gold at the World Championships in Ghent and placed second all-around. After the 2005 and 2006 World Championships he retired from international competition but continues to perform in exhibitions.

Did You Know?

• Ivankov began gymnastics at age 6.
• He was named godfather to Alexei Nemov's son in 2001.
• His first wife, Suzyanna, was an aerobics instructor and Belarusian television personality.