| 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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GYMNASTICS TRAINING BAR Junior Horizontal Practice Bars
$192.00 |
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GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4x8x1-3/8" RAINBOW COLOR
$168.00 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND CYCLING RUNNING TENNIS BLUE
$12.95 |
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New LaGurro Gymnastics Grips With Free Grip Bag
$7.95 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS IT'S A GIRLS THING
$6.99 |
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YOGA MAT - Excercise Mat PILATES MAT with bag
$10.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with Extension Legs
$399.99 |
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Grips Etc. All-Arounder Pegasus Gymnastic Shoes Tan 5
$34.95 |
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Grips Etc. Wrist Savers gymnastic grips Strap Small aj$
$44.95 |
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Lagurro Gymnastics Tiger Paws Wrist Safeguard
$35.00 |
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Blue Gymnastics Cartwheel Beam Mat
$60.00 |
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GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4X8x1-3/8" BRIGHT PASTEL
$168.00 |
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Gymnastics High Rise Balance Beam - 16' 4" long
$500.00 |
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Grips Etc. Wrist Savers gymnastic grips Strap XS
$44.95 |
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New 8 ft Suede Tan Low Profile Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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gymnastic buckle grips
$20.00 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND FOR GYMNASTICS AEROBICS WHT
$12.95 |
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Grips Etc. All-Arounder Pegasus Gymnastic Shoes White 5
$34.95 |
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Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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Mini High Bar with 4'x8'x2" Folding Mat and Ext. Legs
$545.99 |
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Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND FOR GYMNASTICS AEROBICS WHT
$12.95 |
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Nastia Liukin Junior Balance Beam 8' AAI Gymnastic Pink
$263.00 |
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GYMNASTICS TRAINING BAR Junior Horizontal Practice Bars
$192.00 |
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Pink Suede 8 ft FOLDING Balance Beam
$99.99 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND CYCLING RUNNING TENNIS BLUE
$12.95 |
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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PERSONALIZED workout gym yogo bag handbag fitness
$20.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER, LIKE A GIRL BEAM
$6.99 |
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CHEERLEADING FLEXI-ROLL TUMBLING MAT 4X6X1 3/8
$105.00 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND FOR GYMNASTICS AEROBICS PINK
$12.95 |
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Grips Etc. All-Arounder Pegasus Gymnastic Shoes White 7
$34.95 |
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New US GLOVE leather GYMNASTIC GRIPS w/ buckle sz 2
$13.50 |
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Grips Etc. Wrist Savers gymnastic grips Strap Medium
$44.95 |
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2 Tumbl Trak Smart Mats Gymnastics Tumbling 30X30 NEW
$29.99 |
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AAI Hand Chalk 1lb.for Gymnastics & Weight Lifting
$8.99 |
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New Dark Grey 8 ft Low Profile 4x4 Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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~ PINK ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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GET HIGHER GYMNASTICS SCORES LEVEL 3-4-5-6
$5.99 |
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GET HIGHER GYMNASTICS SCORES LEVEL 3-4-5-6
$5.99 |
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American Athletic Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Suede
$110.00 |
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Gymnastics Uneven Bars FIG Approved Rail
$295.00 |
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Foam Rubber 4" squares/cubes used for Gymnastic pits
$29.99 |
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GYMNASTICS TRAINING BAR Junior Horizontal Practice Bars
$192.00 |
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GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 5X10x1-3/8" RAINBOW COLOR
$248.00 |
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US Glove Tiger Paws Gymnastics Wrist Support (Sand)
$39.30 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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Red Gymnastics Cartwheel Beam Mat
$60.00 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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NEW USAG GYMNASTICS Compulsory Routine Level 5-6 DVD
$28.99 |
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New 8 ft Suede Tan Low Profile Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4x6x1-3/8" RAINBOW COLOR
$148.00 |
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Grips Etc. All-Arounder Pegasus Gymnastic Shoes White 6
$34.95 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Cheerleading Gymnastic Carpet MAT 4'x6'
$99.99 |
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AAI Octagon foam shapes Cheerleading Gymnastics 20x28
$190.00 |
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~Pink Polka Dot ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4X8X2" RAINBOW COLOR
$178.00 |
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GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4X8X2", HOME &GYM USE!
$138.00 |
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Vintage 60s Practice Training Gymnastics Balance Beam
$149.99 |
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10x5 Gymnastics Mat
$80.00 |
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GYMNASTICS BALANCE BEAM 8 FT IN LENGTH - PU IN ATLANTA
$54.00 |
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New Dark Grey 8 ft Low Profile 4x4 Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Gymnastics Spring Board
$100.00 |
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Grips Etc. All-Arounder Pegasus Gymnastic Shoes Tan 3
$34.95 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND CYCLING RUNNING TENNIS RED
$12.95 |
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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GYMNASTICS ITALIAN CHARM WATCH ! EXERCISE FITNESS WOMAN
$0.99 |
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Grips Etc. All-Arounder Pegasus Gymnastic Shoes Tan 7
$34.95 |
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REBOUND PRODUCTS TRAMPOLINE STRING BED MAT 14X7 NEW NR
$499.99 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS EASY CALLED FOOTBALL
$6.49 |
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Active Wrap Knee Leg Heat Ice Pack Compress Wrap S/M
$49.95 |
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AAI Junior Bug / Spring Board Vaulting Gymnastics Jr.
$199.99 |
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AAI 4x6 Exercise Tumbling Gymnastic GYM Mat YELLOW NEW
$119.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS HAVE MORE FUN
$6.99 |
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GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4X8X2" BRIGHT PASTEL RAINBOW
$178.00 |
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5" Poly Spots Rainbow Set
$6.00 |
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American Athletic Gymnastics Spring Board AAI Vault JR
$250.00 |
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GYMNASTICS TRAINING BAR Junior Horizontal Practice Bars
$192.00 |
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GYMNASTICS TRAINING BAR Junior Horizontal Practice Bars
$192.00 |
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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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American Athletic Gymnastics Spring Board AAI Vault JR
$250.00 |
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-18" HIGH- New 8 ft Suede Tan Gymnastics Balance Beam
$269.99 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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gymanstics sectional balance beam
$70.00 |
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Gymnastics Tiger Paws Wrist Safeguard Black
$35.00 |
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GYMNASTICS Mini TRAINING BAR Junior Horizontal Practice
$192.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with 6ft Folding Mat
$422.99 |
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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with Extension Legs
$399.99 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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Grips Etc. All-Arounder Pegasus Gymnastic Shoes White 4
$34.95 |
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~Pink Polka Dot ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Gymnastics Folding Training Low Beam
$69.00 |
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Purple 8 ft Low Profile Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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2x4 Folding Incline Mat
$150.00 |
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~Pink Polka Dot ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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AAI Junior Training Bar Gymnastics JR Horizontal Bar
$490.00 |
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