Nikita Nagornyy, a prominent Russian gymnast, has made significant strides in his career since he began gymnastics at age six in Rostov-na-Donu. His grandmother introduced him to the sport to channel his energy. He trains with Dynamo Moscow and Rostov-na-Donu Sports School of Olympic Reserve No.2 under coach Anatoly Zabelin.

| Season | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Men's Team | G Gold |
| 2021 | Men's Horizontal Bar | B Bronze |
| 2021 | Men's Individual All-Around | B Bronze |
| 2021 | Men's Vault | 5 |
| 2021 | Men's Floor Exercise | 7 |
| 2021 | Men's Pommel Horse | 14 |
| 2021 | Men's Rings | 15 |
| 2021 | Men's Parallel Bars | 19 |
| 2016 | Men's Team | S Silver |
| 2016 | Men's Vault | 5 |
| 2016 | Men's Rings | 16 |
| 2016 | Men's Pommel Horse | 21 |
| 2016 | Men's Individual All-Around | 28 |
| 2016 | Men's Floor Exercise | 42 |
| 2016 | Men's Parallel Bars | 61 |
| 2016 | Men's Horizontal Bar | 68 |
Despite a foot injury, Nagornyy competed at the 2017 Russian Championships. His sporting philosophy is, "Nothing in this life is easy. The price of success, as a rule, is smaller than the price of failure."
For his achievements at the 2020 Olympics, he received the Order of Friendship from the Russian president. He was named the Ministry of Sports of Russia's 2020 Athlete of the Year. After his performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, he was honoured with the title of Honoured Master of Sport and the Order for Merits to the Fatherland [first grade].
During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Nagornyy developed a triple salto backward piked on floor exercise. He debuted this skill at the 2021 European Championships in Basel, Switzerland. The International Gymnastics Federation named it 'the Nagornyy' and awarded it an "I" element value.
In 2018, Nagornyy founded Champions Academy near Moscow. The school aims to promote gymnastics among children and adults. He hopes to expand this initiative to other regions in Russia to provide more opportunities for people interested in gymnastics.
In December 2020, Nagornyy was appointed chief of the headquarters of Yunarmia [Youth Army], an All-Russian youth movement involving 700,000 young people with branches across the country.
Nagornyy resides in Moscow with his wife Daria Spiridonova, who also represented Russia in artistic gymnastics and won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He speaks Russian and holds a degree in Coaching from Smolensk State University of Sport.
Nagornyy's journey from a mischievous child to an accomplished gymnast showcases his dedication and passion for the sport. His contributions to gymnastics extend beyond his personal achievements, aiming to inspire future generations.
Nikita Nagornyy, a prominent Russian gymnast, has made significant strides in his career since he began gymnastics at age six in Rostov-na-Donu. His grandmother introduced him to the sport to channel his energy. He trains with Dynamo Moscow and Rostov-na-Donu Sports School of Olympic Reserve No.2 under coach Anatoly Zabelin.