Alexander Artemev
Encyclopedia
Alexander Vladimirovich "Sasha" Artemev is an American
artistic gymnast
. He is the 2006 all-around U.S. National Champion, the 2007 and 2008 U.S. National Champion on the pommel horse
and an individual bronze medalist at the 2006 World Championships
. Artemev was a member of the bronze medal winning U.S. team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
.
, USSR (now Belarus
). He is the son of Vladimir Artemev
, the former Soviet all-around champion in 1982 and 1984 whose own Olympic ambitions were dashed by his country's boycott of the Los Angeles Games
, followed by a career-ending knee injury. The Artemevs moved to the United States in 1994 when Sasha was 9, and father and son became citizens in 2002. His mother, Svetlana, was a high-level Russian rhythmic gymnast who moved to Chile
in 1991, after working as a roller skater in the Moscow Circus.
, Guillermo Alvarez, and Sho Nakamori.
At the 2008 U.S. Nationals, Artemev won the pommel horse title for the second consecutive year. After the Olympic Trials in June, he was named as an alternate to the men's team for the 2008 Olympics. On August 7, he was added to the team, replacing injured Morgan Hamm
.
Together with his teammates, Artemev won the bronze medal in men's team gymnastics in Beijing. Artemev's dazzling performance on the pommel horse, the last routine for the team, locked the Americans in third place. Following the team competition, Artemev competed in the individual all-around, where he received the second highest pommel horse score with a 15.525 (he previously placed third on his pommel horse routine at the qualifiers for all-around with a score of 15.250, and sixth for individual with a 15.250) Artemev finished the all-around competition in 12th place behind fellow American Jonathan Horton
, who placed 9th.
Artemev qualified for the pommel horse individual finals, where he attempted a new routine that would raise his difficulty level. However, halfway through his routine, and just after completing a more difficult move, he fell on an easier move, resulting in an automatic 0.8 of a point deduction, which dropped his final score to a 14.975.
Artemev did not retire following the Olympic Games. In 2009, he returned to training in hopes to make the team for the 2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in October. Injury forced Artemev out of the 2009 Visa National Championships, yet on August 15, 2009, USA Gymnastics announced that Artemev would be part of the US delegation at the World Championships as long as he could prove physical readiness. He was unable to attend however and continued to train.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artistic gymnast
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
. He is the 2006 all-around U.S. National Champion, the 2007 and 2008 U.S. National Champion on the pommel horse
Pommel horse
The pommel horse is an artistic gymnastics apparatus. Traditionally, it is used by only male gymnasts. Originally made of a metal frame with a wooden body and a leather cover, modern pommel horses have a metal body covered with foam rubber and leather, with plastic handles .- History :The pommel...
and an individual bronze medalist at the 2006 World Championships
2006 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
39th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held in Aarhus, Denmark from October 13 to October 21, 2006 in NRGi Arena.It was the first time the World Gymnastics Championships was organized by a Danish city...
. Artemev was a member of the bronze medal winning U.S. team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Early life
Artemev was born in MinskMinsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, USSR (now Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
). He is the son of Vladimir Artemev
Vladimir Artemev
Vladimir Artemev is a retired Belarusian artistic gymnast who competed for the Soviet Union. He was a member of the Soviet national team from 1977 through 1987 and was the Soviet national all-around champion in 1982 and 1984. He was unable to compete at the 1984 Summer Olympics due to the Soviet...
, the former Soviet all-around champion in 1982 and 1984 whose own Olympic ambitions were dashed by his country's boycott of the Los Angeles Games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, followed by a career-ending knee injury. The Artemevs moved to the United States in 1994 when Sasha was 9, and father and son became citizens in 2002. His mother, Svetlana, was a high-level Russian rhythmic gymnast who moved to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1991, after working as a roller skater in the Moscow Circus.
Gymnastics career
Artemev won three titles at the 2006 U.S. National Championships on all-around, pommel horse and parallel bars. He was the only member of the American men's team to win a medal at the 2006 World Championships, a bronze on the pommel horse. At the 2007 U.S. Nationals he finished fourth in the all around, behind champion David DuranteDavid Durante
David Durante is an American artistic gymnast. He is the 2007 U.S. All-Around champion and was one of the three alternates to the 2008 Summer Olympics. He competed at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and was a member of the 4th-place-finishing American team...
, Guillermo Alvarez, and Sho Nakamori.
At the 2008 U.S. Nationals, Artemev won the pommel horse title for the second consecutive year. After the Olympic Trials in June, he was named as an alternate to the men's team for the 2008 Olympics. On August 7, he was added to the team, replacing injured Morgan Hamm
Morgan Hamm
Morgan Carl Hamm is an American artistic gymnast. He represented the United States at the 2000 Summer Olympics and at the 2004 Summer Olympics. At the 2004 Olympics, he won the silver medal in the team competition. He was a member of the silver-medal winning team at the 2003 World Artistic...
.
Together with his teammates, Artemev won the bronze medal in men's team gymnastics in Beijing. Artemev's dazzling performance on the pommel horse, the last routine for the team, locked the Americans in third place. Following the team competition, Artemev competed in the individual all-around, where he received the second highest pommel horse score with a 15.525 (he previously placed third on his pommel horse routine at the qualifiers for all-around with a score of 15.250, and sixth for individual with a 15.250) Artemev finished the all-around competition in 12th place behind fellow American Jonathan Horton
Jonathan Horton
Jonathan Alan Horton is an American gymnast. He is the 2008 Olympic silver medalist on high bar and the 2010 Worlds all-around bronze medalist. He is married to Haley DeProspero, former gymnast for the University of Oklahoma....
, who placed 9th.
Artemev qualified for the pommel horse individual finals, where he attempted a new routine that would raise his difficulty level. However, halfway through his routine, and just after completing a more difficult move, he fell on an easier move, resulting in an automatic 0.8 of a point deduction, which dropped his final score to a 14.975.
Artemev did not retire following the Olympic Games. In 2009, he returned to training in hopes to make the team for the 2009 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in October. Injury forced Artemev out of the 2009 Visa National Championships, yet on August 15, 2009, USA Gymnastics announced that Artemev would be part of the US delegation at the World Championships as long as he could prove physical readiness. He was unable to attend however and continued to train.