| 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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 | NEW GYMNASTICS POSTER GYMNASTS HAVE MORE FUN
$6.99 |
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|  | Gymnastics Pommel Horse Medart Cast Iron Free Local Del
$185.00 |
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 | GYMNASTICS JUNIOR TRAINING BAR FOR GYM AND HOME USE
$282.00 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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 | New 8 ft Suede Tan Low Profile Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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|  | AAI 4x6 Exercise Tumbling Gymnastic GYM Mat YELLOW NEW
$119.99 |
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 | -18" HIGH- New 8 ft Suede Tan Gymnastics Balance Beam
$269.99 |
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|  | Gymnastics Grips - Just Right Single Buckle, Size XXS
$34.95 |
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 | Leather Tiger Paws Wrist Support New !
$29.99 |
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|  | AAI Gymnastics Foam Beam
$110.00 |
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 | 3 NEW US GLOVE SOFT BEGINNER VELCRO GYMNASTIC GRIPS S
$19.99 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$116.00 |
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 | Tumbl Trak
$4295.00 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS FLEXI-ROLL ROLLABLE TRAINING BEAM, 6" WIDE!
$38.00 |
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 | GET HIGHER GYMNASTICS SCORES LEVEL 3-4-5-6
$4.99 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4X8x1-3/8" BRIGHT PASTEL
$168.00 |
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 | BLUE GYMNASTICS TUMBLING EXERCISE MAT Measures 3'X8'X2"
$65.00 |
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|  | Gibson Gymnastics Practice Balance Beam - 8' Carpet
$189.95 |
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5 GYMNASTICS FLOOR MUSIC ROUTINES ~READY TO USE~
$4.99 |
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|  | uneven parallel bars
$112.50 |
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 | Gymnastics Pommel Horse & Spring Vault Board Set
$49.95 |
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|  | ACTIVE WRAP HEAT COLD COMPRESSION ICE PACK SHOULDER S/M
$69.95 |
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 | Gymnastics Preschool Daycare soft play smiley climber
$76.00 |
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|  | NEW TEN.0 10.0 WOMANS GRIPS SIZE 1 DOWEL G910
$26.99 |
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 | TRACK & FIELD TECHNIQUES - HIGH JUMP (VHS Video)
$9.50 |
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|  | New 8 ft Suede Purple Balance Beam and Pink Folding Mat
$224.98 |
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 | Rainbow Tumbling Gymnastics Mat - 5'x10' NEW!!!
$220.00 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$116.00 |
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 | Pink Suede 8 ft FOLDING Balance Beam
$99.99 |
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|  | NEW TEN.0 10.0 WOMANS GRIPS SIZE 2 DOWEL G501-10
$26.99 |
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 | GYMNASTICS Book DEDUCTIONS Levels 1-6 IMPROVE UR SCORE
$19.99 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin 4x8 Pink/White Folding Gymnastic Mat
$175.00 |
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 | Gymnastics Mini High Bar with 6ft Folding Mat
$422.99 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS Book DEDUCTIONS Levels 7-10 IMPROVE UR SCORE
$19.99 |
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 | New Youth Large Gibson Gymnastics Grips Bar Grip
$2.56 |
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|  | Gymnastics Grips - Just Right Single Buckle, Size M
$34.95 |
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 | 3 NEW US GLOVE RAINBOW VELCRO GYMNASTIC GRIPS XS
$19.99 |
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|  | Reisport Ladies Uneven Gymnastics Grip - Velcro Size L
$45.95 |
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 | Foam Rubber 4" squares/cubes used for Gymnastic pits
$29.99 |
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|  | PERSONALIZED workout gym yogo bag handbag fitness
$20.99 |
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 | TRACK & FIELD TECHNIQUES – POLE VAULT (VHS Video)
$9.50 |
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|  | Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 20x28
$159.99 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$116.00 |
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|  | American Athletic Elite Gymnastic Vault
$99.99 |
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 | ~Pink Polka Dot ~ 8 ft Suede Gymnastics Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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|  | FACTORY CLOSE-OUT GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4X8X1.25"
$112.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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|  | Reisport Ladies Uneven Gymnastics Grip - Velcro Size M
$45.95 |
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 | Gymnastics Grips - Just Right Single Buckle, Size S
$34.95 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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 | GYMNASTIC PARALLEL BARS
$1.00 |
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|  | New Suede 8 ft Tan FOLDING Balance Beam
$99.99 |
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 | Purple 8 ft Low Profile Suede Balance Beam
$114.99 |
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|  | REBOUND PRODUCTS TRAMPOLINE STRING BED MAT 14X7 NEW NR
$499.99 |
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 | AAI Gymnastics Nastia Liukin Foam Beam - Pink!!!
$116.00 |
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|  | Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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 | New Youth Xtra Small Gibson Gymnastics Grips XS Pink
$0.99 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS TRAINING BAR Junior Horizontal Practice Bars
$192.00 |
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 | Leather Wrist Support Comfort Grip - New !
$10.50 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS TRAINING DOWNHILL INCLINE MAT, 3'X6'X16" NF
$248.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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|  | Reisport Ladies Uneven Gymnastics Grip-Velcro Size XXS
$45.95 |
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 | AMF American Pommel Pummel Horse Gymnastics Equipment
$100.00 |
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|  | Reisport Ladies Uneven Gymnastics Grip - Velcro Size XS
$45.95 |
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 | TRACK & FIELD TECHNIQUES- JAVELIN (VHS Video)
$9.50 |
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|  | NEW Ladies Gymnastic Leather Shoe, Size 7
$20.00 |
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 | Gymnastics Grips - Just Right Single Buckle, Size XS
$34.95 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS JUNIOR TRAINING BAR FOR GYM AND HOME USE
$235.00 |
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 | Gibson Gymnastics Practice Balance Beam - 8' Suede
$229.95 |
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|  | Gibson Stall Bar - Gymnastics and Athletic Training
$524.95 |
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 | Gymnastic Balance Beam - 12 ft
$300.00 |
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|  | Gymnastics Balance Beam 8 foot tan suede - local pickup
$49.99 |
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 | GYMNASTICS TRAINING HORIZONTAL BAR, THE JR. KIP BAR
$428.00 |
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|  | Gymnastics Grips - Just Right Single Buckle, Size L
$34.95 |
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 | Lagurro Gymnastics Tiger Paws Wrist Safeguard
$35.00 |
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|  | Rainbow Tumbling Gymnastics Mat - 4'x8' NEW!!!
$145.00 |
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 | AAI Nastia Liukin 4x8 Pink/White Folding Gymnastic Mat
$175.00 |
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|  | Folding Gymnastic Incline Mat Wedge Block 24x48x14 Firm
$139.99 |
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 | Personalized GYMNASTICS Bag Tag,Luggage,Backpack U-PICK
$4.50 |
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|  | Reisport Grips - Velcro Straps
$42.00 |
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 | Mini High Bar with 4'x8'x2" Folding Mat and Ext. Legs
$545.99 |
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|  | NEW TEN.0 10.0 WOMANS GRIPS SIZE 0 UNEVEN G501-10N
$26.99 |
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 | GYMNASTICS MINI TRAINING HIGH BAR WITH WOOD RAIL
$348.00 |
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|  | Gymnastics Grips - Just Right Single Buckle, Size XXS
$34.95 |
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 | SA Sports Little Thumper Junior Vault Spring Board NEW
$185.00 |
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|  | ACTIVE WRAP HEAT COLD COMPRESSION ICE PACK SHOULDER S/M
$69.95 |
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5 GYMNASTICS FLOOR MUSIC ROUTINES ~READY TO USE~
$4.99 |
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|  | Reisport Grips - Double Buckle Straps
$39.00 |
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 | GYMNASTIC SPRING BOARD -COMPETITION.
$1.00 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin 4x8 Pink/White Folding Gymnastic Mat
$175.00 |
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 | GYMNASTICS TRAINING DOWNHILL INCLINE MAT, 4'X6'X16" NF
$268.00 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4x8x1-3/8" RAINBOW COLOR
$168.00 |
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 | -18" HIGH- New 8 ft Suede Tan Gymnastics Balance Beam
$269.99 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin Gymnastics Junior Balance Beam
$263.00 |
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 | Octagon Tumbling Training Gymnastics Gym Mat New 15x24
$139.99 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4X8X1-3/8", HOME &GYM USE!
$148.00 |
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