| 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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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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8' Gymnastics Carpeted Beam
$220.00 |
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Gymnastics Tiger Paws Wrist Safeguard
$36.50 |
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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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GYMNASTICS ITALIAN CHARM WATCH ! EXERCISE FITNESS WOMAN
$0.99 |
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Red Gymnastics Cartwheel Beam Mat
$60.00 |
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Blue Gymnastics Cartwheel Beam Mat
$60.00 |
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GYMNASTICS ITALIAN CHARM WATCH ! EXERCISE FITNESS WOMAN
$0.99 |
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Gymnastics Book: Gymnast Journal Scores, Goals, Dreams
$14.00 |
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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER, LIKE A GIRL BEAM
$8.00 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Carpet Roll Cheer Gymnastic Mat 6'x42'
$592.00 |
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American Gym Wood Balance Beam 4" X 16' 5" w/ adj legs
$25.00 |
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Bars Gymnastics Junior Horizontal Practice Bar 45" high
$192.00 |
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Gymnastics Grips with bag
$0.99 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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Purple 8 ft Low Profile Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Portable 5 ft Balance Beam for Gymnastics
$0.99 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Carpet -Cheerleading, Gymnastics 6x10
$240.00 |
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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Gymnastics Uneven Bars FIG Approved Rail
$295.00 |
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New USAG Gymnastics Compulsory Routine DVD Levels 1-4
$14.95 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS IT'S A GIRLS THING
$6.99 |
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GYMNASTICS gymnastic LEVEL 1 - 6 compulsory floor music
$9.99 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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8' Gymnastics Suede Beam
$220.00 |
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Leather Wrist Support Comfort Grip - New !
$1.04 |
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2x4 Non Folding Incline Mat
$130.00 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Cheerleading Gymnastic Carpet MAT 4'x6'
$99.99 |
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AAI Junior Bug / Spring Board Vaulting Gymnastics Jr.
$199.99 |
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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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Top Secrets for Level 5 Competitive Gymnastics CD eBook
$19.99 |
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New LaGurro Gymnastics Grips With Free Grip Bag
$7.95 |
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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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American Athletic Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Suede
$110.00 |
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~ PINK ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER, LIKE A GIRL BARS
$6.99 |
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Gymnastics Mom Circle Magnet - gymnastics
$1.99 |
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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Cheerleading Gymnastic Carpet MAT 4'x6'
$99.99 |
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PERSONALIZED workout gym yogo bag handbag fitness
$20.99 |
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~~ Purple ~~ Suede 8 ft FOLDING Balance Beam
$99.99 |
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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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NISSEN GYMNASTICS BALANCE BEAM DELIVERY AVAIL $99
$89.99 |
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US Glove Tiger Paws Gymnastics Wrist Support (Sand)
$39.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini Bar Horizontal Practice Bars 45" high
$192.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with Extension Legs
$399.99 |
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AAI Nastia Liukin 4x8 Pink/White Folding Gymnastic Mat
$175.00 |
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WEDGE Folding Incline Mat Gymnastics 70x32x12 Block NEW
$269.00 |
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New US GLOVE $35 leather GYMNASTIC GRIPS sz 2
$15.50 |
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Alex Kids Tumbling Mat Gymnastics Exercise 46 X 72
$60.99 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND CYCLING RUNNING TENNIS BLUE
$12.95 |
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Gymnastics Folding Training Low Beam
$69.00 |
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AAI AMERICAN BLUE FOLDING GYMNASTICS MAT USED 8x4x1.5
$90.00 |
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Gymnastics Equipment Spring Floor 40 x 40
$11000.00 |
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~Pink Polka Dot ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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6'X42' standard cheer/gymnastics mat
$250.00 |
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New LaGurro Gymnastics Grips With Free Grip Bag
$7.95 |
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GYMNASTICS ITALIAN CHARM WATCH ! EXERCISE FITNESS WOMAN
$0.99 |
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~Pink Polka Dot ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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Active Wrap Knee Leg Heat Ice Pack Compress Wrap S/M
$49.95 |
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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with Extension Legs
$399.99 |
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GYMNASTICS Book DEDUCTIONS Levels 1-6 IMPROVE UR SCORE
$19.99 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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Pink Suede 8 ft FOLDING Balance Beam
$99.99 |
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10 GYMNASTICS FLOOR MUSIC ROUTINES ~READY TO USE~
$4.99 |
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-18" HIGH- New 8 ft Suede Tan Gymnastics Balance Beam
$269.99 |
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AAI Junior Bug / Spring Board Vaulting Gymnastics Jr.
$199.99 |
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GYMNASTICS - SPORTS - RUBBER STAMP with YOUR ADDRESS
$19.90 |
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AAI Octagon foam shapes Cheerleading Gymnastics 20x28
$190.00 |
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Gymnastics Floor Music Level 1-6 Comp. FREE SHIPPING!!
$9.99 |
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New US GLOVE $35 leather GYMNASTIC GRIPS sz 0
$14.50 |
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Lagurro Gymnastics Tiger Paws Wrist Safeguard
$35.00 |
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American Athletic Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Suede
$110.00 |
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AAI 4x6 Exercise Tumbling Gymnastic GYM Mat YELLOW NEW
$119.99 |
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GYMNASTICS JUNIOR TRAINING BAR FOR GYM AND HOME USE
$282.00 |
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Gymnastics Cheerleading tumbling mats landing wedge LOT
$499.00 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Carpet Roll Cheer Gymnastic Mat 6'x42'
$592.00 |
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gmr professional balance beam
$350.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with 6ft Folding Mat
$422.99 |
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4' X 6' non-folding incline
$150.00 |
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AAI Junior Bug / Spring Board Vaulting Gymnastics Jr.
$199.99 |
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2" Thick 4'x12' Bonded Foam Gymnastics Gym Tumbling Mat
$209.99 |
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New 8 ft Suede Tan Low Profile Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Foam Practice Balance Beam 6 inch x 1.5 inch x 16 foot
$5.00 |
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GYMNASTICS Book DEDUCTIONS Levels 7-10 IMPROVE UR SCORE
$19.99 |
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VAULTING SPRINGBOARD by GYM MASTER Gymnastics Equipment
$225.00 |
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New Dark Grey 8 ft Low Profile 4x4 Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS HAVE MORE FUN
$6.99 |
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Foam Rubber 4" squares/cubes used for Gymnastic pits
$29.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS EASY CALLED FOOTBALL
$6.49 |
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