Leonid Arkayev: key obituary facts
Is Leonid Arkayev dead? Yes. Leonid Arkayev died on November 6, 2026, at age 86.
Cause of death: Leonid Arkayev's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Leonid Arkayev known for?
He was a Soviet and Russian gymnastics coach (born 1940).
More about Leonid Arkayev
Born: 3 June 1940.
Place of birth: Moscow.
Place of death: Moscow.
Gender: male.
Occupation: gymnastics coach, artistic gymnast, coach.
Nationality: Soviet Union, Russia.
Awards: Order of Lenin, Order of the Badge of Honour, Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class, Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class, Order of Friendship of Peoples, Order of the Red Banner of Labour, Merited Coach of the USSR, Merited Coach of Russia.
Also known as: Leonid Yakovlevich Arkayev, Leonid Arkaev, Leonid Y. Arkayev, L. Y. Arkayev, L. Arkayev, Arkayev, Leonid Yakovlevich.
Leonid Arkayev, a Russian gymnast and gymnastics coach inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, died in Moscow on November 6, 2026, aged 86.
Born in Moscow on June 3, 1940, he was an artistic gymnast and later a coach in Soviet and Russian gymnastics. His honors included the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Badge of Honour, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Order of Friendship of Peoples.
He also received the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” in both the second and third classes, and was named a Merited Coach of the USSR and a Merited Coach of Russia. The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame inducted Arkayev in 2011. His biography records roles as gymnast and coach, alongside honors awarded in both Soviet and Russian contexts. He is also listed under the names Leonid Yakovlevich Arkayev, Leonid Arkaev and L. Y. Arkayev.