Yuri Korolyov

Yuri Nikolayevich Korolyov (Russian: Юрий Николаевич Королёв; 25 August 1962 – 29 April 2023) 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 (with Li Ning) in 1986, among many other titles and medals.

He 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 (Floor, shared with Plamen Petkov of Bulgaria, and Parallel Bars).

The beginning of this quadrennium saw Korolyov make an impressive resurgence back onto the international competitive scene as he clinched the All-Around title by a large margin of .300 over Soviet teammate Vladimir Artemov at the 1985 World Championships in Montreal.

Also, that year, at the first Goodwill Games in Moscow, among a deep international field, Korolyov won the All-Around title again by a huge margin of .600 over compatriot Artemov.

Despite the very successful return of Bilozerchev and the rise of younger Soviet stars such as Valeri Liukin and Valentin Mogilny, Korolyov still managed to win his 3rd European All-Around Silver Medal, behind Liukin, at that year's competition European Gymnastics Championships in Moscow, adding to that 1 gold and 1 silver in event finals.