| 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 Tiger Paws Wrist Safeguard
$36.50 |
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Alex Kids Tumbling Mat Gymnastics Exercise 46 X 72
$60.99 |
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2x4 Folding Incline Mat
$150.00 |
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GYMNASTICS - SPORTS - RUBBER STAMP with YOUR ADDRESS
$19.90 |
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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2x4 Non Folding Incline Mat
$130.00 |
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gmr professional balance beam
$350.00 |
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10 GYMNASTICS FLOOR MUSIC ROUTINES ~READY TO USE~
$4.99 |
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Portable 5 ft Balance Beam for Gymnastics
$0.99 |
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BLUE SUEDE FOLDING BALANCE BEAM- 8'
$39.99 |
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Top Secrets for Level 5 Competitive Gymnastics CD eBook
$19.99 |
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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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US Glove Women's Dowel grips Gymnastics
$0.99 |
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Gymnastics Mom Circle Magnet - gymnastics
$1.99 |
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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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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with Extension Legs
$399.99 |
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American Gym Wood Balance Beam 4" X 16' 5" w/ adj legs
$25.00 |
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Gymnastics Uneven Bars FIG Approved Rail
$295.00 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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Blue Gymnastics Cartwheel Beam Mat
$60.00 |
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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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AAI Octagon foam shapes Cheerleading Gymnastics 20x28
$190.00 |
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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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Gymnastics Floor Music Level 1-6 Comp. FREE SHIPPING!!
$9.99 |
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~ PINK ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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AAI Nastia Liukin 4x8 Pink/White Folding Gymnastic Mat
$175.00 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Carpet Roll Cheer Gymnastic Mat 6'x42'
$592.00 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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Rosin Powder, Bulk 10 LB Drum
$99.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini Bar Horizontal Practice Bars 45" high
$192.00 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Carpet -Cheerleading, Gymnastics 6x10
$240.00 |
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Gymnastics Equipment Spring Floor 40 x 40
$11000.00 |
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AAI AMERICAN BLUE FOLDING GYMNASTICS MAT USED 8x4x1.5
$90.00 |
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Gymnastics Mini High Bar with 6ft Folding Mat
$422.99 |
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NEW USAG Gymnastics Routine DVD Levels 1-4 - *buySAFE*
$21.95 |
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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Gymnastics Cheerleading tumbling mats landing wedge LOT
$499.00 |
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Gymnastics Folding Training Low Beam
$69.00 |
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NISSEN GYMNASTICS POMMEL HORSE DELIV AVAIL $199
$444.44 |
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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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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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Bars Gymnastics Junior Horizontal Practice Bar 45" high
$192.00 |
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8' Gymnastics Suede Beam
$220.00 |
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AAI Junior Bug / Spring Board Vaulting Gymnastics Jr.
$199.99 |
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Lagurro Gymnastics Tiger Paws Wrist Safeguard
$35.00 |
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Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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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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New LaGurro Gymnastics Grips With Free Grip Bag
$7.95 |
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Gymnastics Drills & Conditioning Book - Gymnast & Coach
$19.95 |
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-18" HIGH- New 8 ft Suede Tan Gymnastics Balance Beam
$269.99 |
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NISSEN GYMNASTICS BALANCE BEAM DELIVERY AVAIL $99
$89.99 |
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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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Leather Wrist Support Comfort Grip - New !
$1.04 |
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New USAG Gymnastics Compulsory Routine DVD Levels 1-4
$14.95 |
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WEDGE Folding Incline Mat Gymnastics 70x32x12 Block NEW
$269.00 |
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AAI 4x6 Exercise Tumbling Gymnastic GYM Mat YELLOW NEW
$119.99 |
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American Athletic Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Suede
$110.00 |
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Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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GYMNASTICS Book DEDUCTIONS Levels 1-6 IMPROVE UR SCORE
$19.99 |
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Active Wrap Knee Leg Heat Ice Pack Compress Wrap S/M
$49.95 |
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AAI 4x6 BLUE Folding Gymnastic Exercise Gym Mat 1-1/2"
$129.99 |
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AAI Junior Bug / Spring Board Vaulting Gymnastics Jr.
$199.99 |
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GYMNASTICS JUNIOR TRAINING BAR FOR GYM AND HOME USE
$282.00 |
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Gymnastics Grips with bag
$0.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS IT'S A GIRLS THING
$6.99 |
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US Glove Tiger Paws Gymnastics Wrist Support (Sand)
$39.00 |
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New US GLOVE $35 leather GYMNASTIC GRIPS sz 0
$14.50 |
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8' Gymnastics Carpeted Beam
$220.00 |
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~~ Purple ~~ Suede 8 ft FOLDING Balance Beam
$99.99 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS EASY CALLED FOOTBALL
$6.49 |
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New LaGurro Gymnastics Grips With Free Grip Bag
$7.95 |
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4' X 6' non-folding incline
$150.00 |
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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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Mini Bar Gymnastics Exercise and Training Aid
$270.00 |
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New USAG Gymnastics Routine DVD Levels 5-6 - *buySAFE*
$29.95 |
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Foam Rubber 4" squares/cubes used for Gymnastic pits
$29.99 |
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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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42x42 Gymnastics/Cheer Floor
$2000.00 |
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HALO II HEADBAND SWEATBAND FOR GYMNASTICS AEROBICS PINK
$12.95 |
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~Pink Polka Dot ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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Gymnastics Book: Gymnast Journal Scores, Goals, Dreams
$14.00 |
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New 8 ft Suede Tan Low Profile Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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American Athletic Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Suede
$110.00 |
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NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER, LIKE A GIRL BARS
$6.99 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Cheerleading Gymnastic Carpet MAT 4'x6'
$99.99 |
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Foam Practice Balance Beam 6 inch x 1.5 inch x 16 foot
$5.00 |
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GYMNASTICS gymnastic LEVEL 1 - 6 compulsory floor music
$9.99 |
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New Dark Grey 8 ft Low Profile 4x4 Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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AAI Foam Bonded Cheerleading Gymnastic Carpet MAT 4'x6'
$99.99 |
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Purple 8 ft Low Profile Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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PERSONALIZED workout gym yogo bag handbag fitness
$20.99 |
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