Top 5 Best | Unexpected Olympic Champions

There are so many great performances during the Olympics, but these gymnasts below made our Top 5:

(not listed in order)
Ioannis Melissanidis(Greek): Became floor Olympic Champion in 1996. The win marked the first Olympics gymnastics medal for Greece since 1906. He was also the 1994 European Champion on floor and the first Greek gymnast ever to medal at the World Championships.

Trent Dimas (USA): During the 1992 Olympics Trent Dimas captured the gold medal on the high bar. Dimas became a member of the US junior national team at the age of 13 and made the U.S. senior national team at the age of 15. He attended the University of Nebraska his freshman year where he became a two-time All-American and member of the 1990 1st Place NCAA Championship team.

Max Whitlock(GBR): Whitlock was selected for Great Britain's 2016 Olympic gymnastic team. During the Games, he first won a bronze medal in the all-round gymnastics event, which is Great Britain's first medal in this Olympic event for 108 years. Days later he won the gold medals in the Men's Floor and Men's Pommel Horse events, becoming his country's most successful Olympic gymnast, and its first Olympic champion in Gymnastics.

Valery Goncharov (Urk): From Kharkiv, Ukraine Goncharov won the gold medal on parallel bars at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Igor Vihrovs (Lat): Vihrovs won the gold medal on floor at the 2000 Olympics, bronze at the 2000 European Championships, and 2001 World Championships. He was the first Olympic gold medalist for Latvia.

[stvp]

After not watching the Olympics for 12 years, watching Melissanidis in 96 reminded me how much I love watching men’s gymnastics.

[LeslieGMN]

I agree about Trent Dimas! I watch his performance when I need a shot of pure joy.

[maryprice]

I about passed out from shock when Trent Diamas one that year. The USA has been in "rebuilding mode" since 1985.

[Margo-ojyc]

I was 12 years old when I watched Trent Dimas win Olympic gold on TV and it was an unforgettable experience. It was impossible not to feel the pure, exuberant joy from both Trent and his coach. It still hasn't gotten old. Thanks to today's technology, we old folks can relive the experience and the younger generations get to experience it too.

[susandilaudo]

So happy Trent's HB gold was your #1. I'll never forget that 1 either!!! The unified team was like the former USSR but times 10! Not to mention American gymnasts didnt have the reputation, esp the men.

[solo]

When trent won that year was an American joy... sports always been a statement and that gave us lots of big performances. I miss the old days and the old performance of the old skills. Now it's not that fantastic

[roxy]

You should do the women including Sanne Wevers of the Netherlands who beat 3 time world balance beam champion in Rio 2016 on the Balance Beam.

[mstkanita]

I remember what a big deal it was when Trent won.

[mht]

Teng Haibin as well in the 2004 Athens for pommel horse. He fell twice in the team competition, which contributed to the Chinese team finishing in 5th instead of on the podium. He won the only Olympic gold medal for the Chinese team, men & women, when all the favorites faltered in finals

[taylorburtis]

Kyle Shewfelt for the 2004 floor final was definitely in the top 5 for me. Secondly- The difficulty had nothing to do with who got gold on floor in 2000, as they both had a 10.00 difficulty. It was strictly the execution!

[MrSkingfan]

It's a great list that I pretty much agree with among the men's gymnasts, but I didn't see any hops from Li Xiaoshuang in that routine...

[ajimenezify]

Melissanidis was a beautiful performer and had wonderful artistic qualities that the other men didnt have. I remember seeing his set and thinking "Wow! How gorgeous was that?!" (Sorry about butchering his name there.)

[gabranis]

Shirai just didn't have the usual consistency that day.

[awesomeassam]

Your voice may suitable for horror and mysterious topics... But not for this for sure...