| Equipment Article |
To the Ancient Greeks, physical fitness was paramount, and all Greek cities had a gymnasia, a courtyard for jumping, running, and wrestling. As the Roman Empire ascended, Greek gymnastics gave way to military training. The Romans, for example, introduced the wooden horse. In 393 AD the Emperor Theodosius abolished the Olympic Games, which by then had become corrupt, and gymnastics, along with other sports declined. Later, Christianity, with its medieval belief in the base nature of the human body, had a deleterious effect on gymnastics. For centuries, gymnastics was all but forgotten.[1]
In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, however, two pioneer physical educators . Johann Friedrich GutsMuth (1759 . 1839) and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778 . 1852) - created exercises for boys and young men on apparatus they designed that ultimately led to what is considered modern gymnastics. In particular, Jahn crafted early models of the horizontal bar, the parallel bars (from a horizontal ladder with the rungs removed), and the vaulting horse.[1]
By the end of the nineteenth century, men's gymnastics competition was popular enough to be included in the first "modern" Olympic Games in 1896. However, from then, and up until the early 1950s, both national and international competitions involved a changing variety of exercises gathered under the rubric gymnastics that would seem strange to today's audiences: synchronized team floor calisthenics, rope climbing, high jumping, running, horizontal ladder, etc. During the 1920s, women organized and participated in gymnastics events, and the first women's Olympic competition . primitive, for it involved only synchronized calisthenics - was held at the 1928 Games in Amsterdam.
By the 1954 Olympic Games apparatus and events for both men and women had been standardized in modern format, and uniform grading structures (including a point system from 1 to 10) had been agreed upon. At this time, Soviet gymnasts astounded the world with highly disciplined and difficult performances, setting a precedent that continues to inspire. The new medium of television helped publicize and initiate a modern age of gymnastics. Both men's and women's gymnastics now attract considerable international interest, and excellent gymnasts can be found on every continent.
Nadia Comaneci received the first perfect score, at the 1976 Olympic Games held in Montreal, Canada. She was coached by the famous Romanian, Bela Karolyi. According to Sports Illustrated, Comaneci scored four of her perfect tens on the uneven bars, two on the balance beam and one in the floor exercise. Unfortunately, even with Nadia's perfect scores, the Romanians lost the gold medal to the Soviets. Nadia will always be remembered as "a fourteen year old, ponytailed little girl" who showed the world that perfection could be achieved.
In 2006, a new points system was put into play. Instead of being marked 1 to 10, the gymnast's start value depends on the difficulty rating of the exercise routine. Also, the deductions became higher: before the new point system developed, the deduction for a fall was 0.5, and now it is 0.8. The motivation for a new point system was to decrease the chance of gymnasts getting a perfect score.
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with 6ft Folding Mat
$422.99 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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GYMNASTICS Book DEDUCTIONS Levels 1-6 IMPROVE UR SCORE
$19.99 |
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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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Red Gymnastics Cartwheel Beam Mat
$60.00 |
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8' Gymnastics Suede Beam
$220.00 |
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8' Gymnastics Carpeted Beam
$220.00 |
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Purple 8 ft Low Profile Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Pink Suede 8 ft FOLDING Balance Beam
$99.99 |
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Gymnastics Mom Circle Magnet - gymnastics
$1.99 |
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AAI Junior Bug / Spring Board Vaulting Gymnastics Jr.
$199.99 |
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AAI Nastia Liukin 4x8 Pink/White Folding Gymnastic Mat
$175.00 |
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7 Gymnastics Floor Music READY TO USE~Blue Man group +
$4.99 |
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Top Secrets for Level 5 Competitive Gymnastics CD eBook
$19.99 |
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Foam Rubber 4" squares/cubes used for Gymnastic pits
$29.99 |
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VAULTING SPRINGBOARD by GYM MASTER Gymnastics Equipment
$225.00 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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6'X42' standard cheer/gymnastics mat
$250.00 |
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GYMNASTICS ITALIAN CHARM WATCH ! EXERCISE FITNESS WOMAN
$0.99 |
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Rosin Powder, Bulk 10 LB Drum
$99.00 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini Bar Horizontal Practice Bars 45" high
$192.00 |
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New US GLOVE $35 leather GYMNASTIC GRIPS sz 2
$15.50 |
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Active Wrap Knee Leg Heat Ice Pack Compress Wrap S/M
$49.95 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Carpet Roll Cheer Gymnastic Mat 6'x42'
$592.00 |
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Gymnastics Paws Wrist Safeguard
$36.50 |
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AAI Junior Bug / Spring Board Vaulting Gymnastics Jr.
$199.99 |
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Gymnastics Folding Training Low Beam
$69.00 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS IT'S A GIRLS THING
$6.99 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Carpet Roll Cheer Gymnastic Mat 6'x42'
$592.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with Extension Legs
$399.99 |
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND FOR GYMNASTICS AEROBICS PINK
$12.95 |
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gmr professional balance beam
$350.00 |
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Bars Gymnastics Junior Horizontal Practice Bar 45" high
$192.00 |
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GYMNASTICS Book DEDUCTIONS Levels 7-10 IMPROVE UR SCORE
$19.99 |
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2x4 Non Folding Incline Mat
$130.00 |
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American Athletic Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Suede
$110.00 |
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New 8 ft Suede Tan Low Profile Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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NISSEN GYMNASTICS BALANCE BEAM DELIVERY AVAIL $99
$89.99 |
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Gymnastics Cheerleading tumbling mats landing wedge LOT
$499.00 |
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New Dark Grey 8 ft Low Profile 4x4 Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Gymnastics Grips with bag
$0.99 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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Alex Kids Tumbling Mat Gymnastics Exercise 46 X 72
$59.99 |
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American Tumbling Mat
$125.00 |
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10 GYMNASTICS FLOOR MUSIC ROUTINES ~READY TO USE~
$4.99 |
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GYMNASTICS JUNIOR TRAINING BAR FOR GYM AND HOME USE
$282.00 |
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Gymnastics Tiger Paws Safeguards with Paws' Bag
$36.35 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER, LIKE A GIRL BARS
$6.99 |
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~Pink Polka Dot ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER, LIKE A GIRL BEAM
$8.00 |
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GYMNASTICS - SPORTS - RUBBER STAMP with YOUR ADDRESS
$19.90 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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Gymnastics Tiger Paws Safeguards with Paws's Bag
$36.35 |
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Foam Practice Balance Beam 6 inch x 1.5 inch x 16 foot
$5.00 |
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Gymnastics Floor Music Level 1-6 Comp. FREE SHIPPING!!
$9.99 |
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4' X 6' non-folding incline
$150.00 |
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PERSONALIZED workout gym yogo bag handbag fitness
$20.99 |
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Leather Wrist Support Comfort Grip - New !
$1.04 |
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American Athletic Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Suede
$110.00 |
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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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gymnastic parallel bars
$102.50 |
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AAI 4x6 Exercise Tumbling Gymnastic GYM Mat YELLOW NEW
$119.99 |
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2" Thick 4'x12' Bonded Foam Gymnastics Gym Tumbling Mat
$209.99 |
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AAI Junior Bug / Spring Board Vaulting Gymnastics Jr.
$199.99 |
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2x4 Folding Incline Mat
$150.00 |
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US Glove Women's Dowel grips Gymnastics
$0.99 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Carpet -Cheerleading, Gymnastics 6x10
$240.00 |
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New USAG Gymnastics Compulsory Routine DVD Levels 1-4
$14.95 |
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Gymnastics Equipment Spring Floor 40 x 40
$11000.00 |
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GYMNASTICS ITALIAN CHARM WATCH ! EXERCISE FITNESS WOMAN
$0.99 |
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AAI Octagon foam shapes Cheerleading Gymnastics 20x28
$190.00 |
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Blue Gymnastics Cartwheel Beam Mat
$60.00 |
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New LaGurro Gymnastics Grips With Free Grip Bag
$7.95 |
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New US GLOVE $35 leather GYMNASTIC GRIPS sz 0
$14.50 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND CYCLING RUNNING TENNIS BLUE
$12.95 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS EASY CALLED FOOTBALL
$6.49 |
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AAI AMERICAN BLUE FOLDING GYMNASTICS MAT USED 8x4x1.5
$90.00 |
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WEDGE Folding Incline Mat Gymnastics 70x32x12 Block NEW
$269.00 |
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Portable 5 ft Balance Beam for Gymnastics
$0.99 |
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New LaGurro Gymnastics Grips With Free Grip Bag
$7.95 |
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~Pink Polka Dot ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Gymnastics Tiger Paws Wrist Safeguard
$36.50 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Cheerleading Gymnastic Carpet MAT 4'x6'
$99.99 |
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American Athletic Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Suede
$110.00 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Cheerleading Gymnastic Carpet MAT 4'x6'
$99.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS HAVE MORE FUN
$6.99 |
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GYMNASTICS ITALIAN CHARM WATCH ! EXERCISE FITNESS WOMAN
$0.99 |
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Gymnastics Uneven Bars FIG Approved Rail
$295.00 |
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Nastia Liukin Junior Balance Beam 8' AAI Gymnastic Pink
$215.00 |
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