Boris Shakhlin

  • Ukraine

Shakhlin earned individual gold medals at three straight Olympic Games (Melbourne in 1956, Rome in 1960, Tokyo in 1964), as well as five gold medals at the 1958 World Championships.

Induction Speech Video

With his steely determination and calm consistency, Shakhlin earned the nickname "Man of Iron."

With 13 Olympic medals, Boris Shakhlin is tied for third among all-time Olympic medal holders in all sports. Born in Siberia in 1932, Shakhlin was orphaned at age 12 and was raised by his grandmother. Shakhlin earned individual gold medals at three straight Olympic Games (Melbourne in 1956, Rome in 1960, Tokyo in 1964), as well as five gold medals at the 1958 World Championships. With his steely determination and calm consistency, Shakhlin earned the nickname "Man of Iron." Since his retirement in 1966, he has served as an international judge, and was a member of the International Gymnastics Federation's Men's Technical Committee from 1968 until 1992. During his career - as both gymnast and official - he has participated in 12 Olympic Games and 22 World Championships. Shakhlin, 70, resides in Kiev with his wife, Larisa, a former gymnast. Together the couple established the "Boris Shakhlin Foundation" to aid Ukrainian gymnasts.

1954 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Gold Medalist & Olympic Champion:
    • Team
  • Silver Medalist:
    • Horizontal Bar (T)

1956 OLYMPIC GAMES

  • Gold Medalist & Olympic Champion:
    • Pommel Horse
    • Team

1958 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Gold Medalist & Olympic Champion:
    • All-Around
    • Pommel Horse
    • Parallel Bars
    • Horizontal Bar
    • Team

1960 OLYMPIC GAMES

  • Gold Medalist & Olympic Champion:
    • All-Around
    • Pommel Horse
    • Parallel Bars
    • Vault (T)
  • Silver Medalist:
    • Still Rings
    • Rings
  • Bronze Medalist:
    • Horizontal Bar

1962 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Silver Medalist:
    • Still Rings (T)
    • Pommel Horse
    • Parallel Bars
    • Team
  • Bronze Medalist:
    • Vault
    • All-Around

1964 OLYMPIC GAMES

  • Gold Medalist & Olympic Champion:
    • Horizontal Bar
  • Silver Medalist:
    • Team
    • All-Around
  • Bronze Medalist:
    • Still Rings

2002 INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTICS HALL OF FAME

  • Inducted as a member of the Class of 2002