Naoya Tsukahara
Encyclopedia
Naoya Tsukahara is a Japanese artistic gymnast and Olympic Gold Medalist. He is the son of the former Japanese gymnast, Mitsuo Tsukahara
, who was also a multi Gold Medalist in Olympic Games
. He competed throughout the late 1990s and was still competing as of summer 2009.
in Atlanta. The Japanese team finished 10th in the team final. Individually, Naoya qualified into the all-around final and finished 12th in the final.
Although Naoya did not get any medal in the 1996 Olympics, he had been quite successful after that. In the 1997 World Championships
, he won two bronze medals in all-around and on parallel bars. In the 1999 World Championships
, he had pushed himself to a higher level of success, winning a silver in all-around and on parallel bars.
in Sydney
. This time, unfortunately, the Japanese gymnastics team was edged by the Russian team for a bronze medal. Individually, Naoya qualified 6th and 10th into the horizontal bar
and all-around final respectively. He finally finished 18th in all-around final, and a fall in the horizontal bar final made him come last, with a score of 8.825.
, Naoya could not regain his form of 2000. In addition, there were some fabulous gymnasts rose in Japan, including Hiroyuki Tomita
, Isao Yoneda
and Takehiro Kashima
. Naoya's character in the national team changed from an all-around competitor into an anchor for the Japanese gymnastics team.
In the 2003 World Championships
, Naoya made into the all-around and parallel bars final, finishing 7th in the all-around while his teammates, Hiroyuki Tomita
, won a bronze in that event. Individually, Naoya placed 4th on his strongest event, parallel bars with a score of 9.675.
held in Athens
, Greece
. The Japanese team showed strong performances and eventually won a team gold medal. Naoya placed 4th on floor exercise in prelim with a 9.725, the same score of his teammates, Isao Yoneda
and Daisuke Nakano. However, the tie-breaker policy favoured his two teammates into the final. He did not qualified into the all-around final.
finished, which is an age regarding 'old' for gymnastics. Nevertheless, he was still competing. He won a bronze medal with the team in the 2006 World Championships
. Naoya could not make himself in the 2008 Summer Olympics
but he was still competing as of Summer 2010.
Mitsuo Tsukahara
Mitsuo Tsukahara is a Japanese artistic gymnast. He was five times an Olympic Gold Medalist. His remained active in the sport after his retirement from competition...
, who was also a multi Gold Medalist in Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. He competed throughout the late 1990s and was still competing as of summer 2009.
Late 1990s
Naoya participated at the 1996 OlympicsGymnastics at the 1996 Summer Olympics
At the 1996 Summer Olympics, two different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. The artistic gymnastics events were held at the Georgia Dome from July 20–25 and July 28–29. The rhythmic gymnastics events were held at Stegeman Coliseum in nearby...
in Atlanta. The Japanese team finished 10th in the team final. Individually, Naoya qualified into the all-around final and finished 12th in the final.
Although Naoya did not get any medal in the 1996 Olympics, he had been quite successful after that. In the 1997 World Championships
1997 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 33rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1997.The 1997 Worlds were notable because they were the first major contest to be held after the elimination of compulsory exercises.-All-round:-Apparatus:...
, he won two bronze medals in all-around and on parallel bars. In the 1999 World Championships
1999 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 34th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held at Tianjin Arena in Tianjin, China in 1999.-All-around:-Apparatus:-All-around:-Apparatus:...
, he had pushed himself to a higher level of success, winning a silver in all-around and on parallel bars.
2000 Summer Olympics
Following his successes at the World Championships, Naoya eventually came to his second Olympic Games, the 2000 OlympicsGymnastics at the 2000 Summer Olympics
At the 2000 Summer Olympics, three different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline. The artistic gymnastics and trampoline events were held at the Sydney SuperDome on September 16–25 and September 22–23, respectively...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. This time, unfortunately, the Japanese gymnastics team was edged by the Russian team for a bronze medal. Individually, Naoya qualified 6th and 10th into the horizontal bar
Horizontal bar
The high bar, also known as the horizontal bar, is an apparatus used by male gymnasts in Artistic Gymnastics. It traditionally consists of a cylindrical metal bar that is rigidly held above and parallel to the floor by a system of cables and stiff vertical supports. Gymnasts typically wear leather...
and all-around final respectively. He finally finished 18th in all-around final, and a fall in the horizontal bar final made him come last, with a score of 8.825.
2001-2003
After the 2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, Naoya could not regain his form of 2000. In addition, there were some fabulous gymnasts rose in Japan, including Hiroyuki Tomita
Hiroyuki Tomita
Hiroyuki Tomita is a Japanese gymnast. Tomita has three Olympic medals from the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.-Early life:...
, Isao Yoneda
Isao Yoneda
is a Japanese gymnast. He was raised in Tokyo. He is the 2004 Summer Olympics gold medalist in the team event and the bronze medalist in the high bar.-External links:...
and Takehiro Kashima
Takehiro Kashima
is a Japanese gymnast, world champion and Olympic champion.-Olympics:Kashima won a gold medal in the team all-around and a bronze medal in pommel-horse at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens...
. Naoya's character in the national team changed from an all-around competitor into an anchor for the Japanese gymnastics team.
In the 2003 World Championships
2003 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 37th World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held in Anaheim, California, United States, in 2003.Tie-breakers were not used at this competition...
, Naoya made into the all-around and parallel bars final, finishing 7th in the all-around while his teammates, Hiroyuki Tomita
Hiroyuki Tomita
Hiroyuki Tomita is a Japanese gymnast. Tomita has three Olympic medals from the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.-Early life:...
, won a bronze in that event. Individually, Naoya placed 4th on his strongest event, parallel bars with a score of 9.675.
2004 Summer Olympics
Naoya made himself into the 2004 Summer OlympicsGymnastics at the 2004 Summer Olympics
At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, three disciplines of gymnastics were contested: artistic gymnastics , rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline...
held in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. The Japanese team showed strong performances and eventually won a team gold medal. Naoya placed 4th on floor exercise in prelim with a 9.725, the same score of his teammates, Isao Yoneda
Isao Yoneda
is a Japanese gymnast. He was raised in Tokyo. He is the 2004 Summer Olympics gold medalist in the team event and the bronze medalist in the high bar.-External links:...
and Daisuke Nakano. However, the tie-breaker policy favoured his two teammates into the final. He did not qualified into the all-around final.
After the 2004 Summer Olympics
Naoya was 27 by the time that the Olympic Games in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
finished, which is an age regarding 'old' for gymnastics. Nevertheless, he was still competing. He won a bronze medal with the team in 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...
. Naoya could not make himself in the 2008 Summer Olympics
Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics
At the 2008 Summer Olympics, three different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline. The artistic gymnastics events were held at the Beijing National Indoor Stadium on August 9–19. The rhythmic gymnastics events were held at the Beijing...
but he was still competing as of Summer 2010.