| 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 PERSONALIZED NAME MEANING ORIGIN POEM GIFT
$6.95 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin Handstand Bar Single Floor Training
$125.00 |
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 | US Glove Tiger Paws Gymnastics Wrist Support (Sand)
$39.30 |
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|  | 4'x8'x1 3/8" BLUE GYMNASTICS FOAM TUMBLING LANDING MAT
$109.99 |
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 | AAI Gymnastics Nastia Liukin Foam Beam - Pink!!!
$116.00 |
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|  | NEW TEN.0 10.0 WOMANS GRIPS SIZE 2 G501-10N UNEVEN
$29.99 |
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 | 2" Thick 4'x8' PINK Folding Gymnastics Gym Tumbling Mat
$145.99 |
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|  | Reisport Ladies Uneven Grip - Velcro Size XXS NEW!!!
$45.95 |
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 | Gymnastics Junior Training Bar for Gym and Home Use
$282.00 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin Gymnastics Junior Balance Beam
$263.00 |
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 | Gymnastics Tiger Paws - SAND - Medium - Free Shipping
$45.00 |
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|  | RESILITE Gymnastics Practice Floor Balance Beam- 9 Feet
$29.99 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Cartwheel / Beam Gymnastics Mat by AAI
$39.00 |
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|  | ** RED ** Folding Gymnastic Triangle Wedge Incline Mat
$150.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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|  | SA Sports Little Thumper Junior Vault Spring Board NEW
$185.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin 9' Foam Balance Beam Pink and White
$110.00 |
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|  | ** BLACK * Folding Gymnastic Triangle Wedge Incline Mat
$150.00 |
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 | GYMNASTICS TRAINING MAT & BAR COMBO
$478.00 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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 | Ladie's Uneven Bar Grips
$0.99 |
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|  | Personalized Gymnastics Medal Display / Key hook
$29.95 |
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 | AAI Foam Bonded Cheerleading Gymnastic Carpet MAT 6x12'
$245.00 |
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|  | Folding Gymnastic Incline Mat Wedge Block 24x48x14 Firm
$145.99 |
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 | LOT 2 AMERICAN REFLEX VAULT W/O POMMEL HORSE
$999.99 |
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|  | Gymnastics Tiger Paws - Beige - Small - Free Shipping
$45.00 |
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 | AAI Nastia Liukin 5x10 Pink/White Tumbling Gym Mat
$225.00 |
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|  | 4x8 Gym Mat and Junior Training Bar Package
$455.00 |
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 | Resilite's 4' Infinity Low Beam
$179.00 |
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|  | Gymnastics Spotting & Training Belt (S - L)
$69.00 |
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 | Gymnastics Tiger Paws - SAND - Small - Free Shipping
$45.00 |
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| USA Gymnastics Level 5 & 6 Jr. Olympic Routines dvd
$19.99 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Cartwheel / Beam Gymnastics Mat by AAI
$40.00 |
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|  | ** BLUE ** Folding Gymnastic Triangle Wedge Incline Mat
$150.00 |
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 | 2" Thick 4x6 PINK Folding Gymnastics Gym Tumbling Mat
$149.99 |
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|  | GRIPS for the young GYMNAST~US GLOVE~Leather Palm Guard
$6.99 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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|  | Gymnastics Tiger Paws - SAND - Large - Free Shipping
$45.00 |
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 | Rainbow Tumbling Gymnastics Mat - 5'x10' NEW!!!
$220.00 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin 4x8 Pink/White Folding Gymnastic Mat
$165.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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|  | Gymnastics Tiger Paws - Teal - Small - Free Shipping
$45.00 |
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 | Dry Grip 6oz NO SWEATY HANDS DURING YOUR ROUTINE
$9.00 |
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|  | NEW Gymnastics Routine DVD Levels 1-4 - *buySAFE*
$19.95 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin 5x10 Pink/White Tumbling Gym Mat
$225.00 |
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 | Gibson Tumbling Mat - 4' x 8' (2-sided velcro) NEW!!!
$140.00 |
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|  | 5' x 10' folding gymnastics panel mat Nastia Liukin AAI
$225.00 |
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 | 4'x8'x1 3/8" MULTI COLOR GYMNASTICS FOAM TUMBLING MAT
$109.99 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 5X10X2" BRIGHT PASTEL RAINBOW
$298.00 |
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 | Grippy Block Chalk Gymnastics Climbing Weight Lifting
$5.50 |
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|  | NEW 4'x8'x2" MULTI COLOR GYMNASTICS FOAM TUMBLING MAT
$129.99 |
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 | Grippy Chalk Gymnastics Climbing Weight Lifting CASE
$255.00 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin 4x8 Pink/White Folding Gymnastic Mat
$165.00 |
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 | Gibson Tumbling Mat - 5' x 10' (2-sided velcro) NEW!!!
$200.00 |
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|  | Gymnastics Incline Mat for Gym and Home Use
$155.00 |
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 | 4x12 Gym Mat and Junior Training Bar Package
$531.00 |
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|  | 5' x 10' folding gymnastics panel mat Nastia Liukin AAI
$225.00 |
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GYMNASTICS gymnastic LEVEL 1 - 6 compulsory floor music
$9.99 |
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|  | AAI Hand Chalk 1lb Gymnastics Chalk American Athletic
$9.99 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin 4' x 8' Pink and White Folding Gymnastics
$163.95 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Cartwheel / Beam Gymnastics Mat by AAI
$39.00 |
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|  | Nissen Gymnastics Balance Beam, 16.5 ft long 4 in. wide
$29.99 |
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 | Dry Grip 6oz NO SWEATY HANDS DURING YOUR ROUTINE
$9.00 |
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|  | Personalized Gymnastics Gymnast Dance Duffle Bag
$23.99 |
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 | Gymnastics Tiger Paws - Red - Small - Free Shipping
$45.00 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin Handstand Bar Single Floor Training
$125.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Tumbling Mat 4' x 8' NEW!!!
$175.00 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS MINI TRAINING HIGH BAR & MAT COMBO
$468.00 |
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 | Dry Grip 6oz NO SWEATY HANDS DURING YOUR ROUTINE
$9.00 |
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|  | GYMNASTICS TUMBLING MAT, 4X8X1-3/8", HOME &GYM USE!
$148.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Cartwheel Beam Gym Gymnastics Mat AAI New
$48.00 |
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|  | 2" Thick 4'x6' Folding Exercise Gymnastics Tumbling Mat
$139.99 |
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 | ** PINK ** Folding Gymnastic Triangle Wedge Incline Mat
$150.00 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin Cartwheel / Beam Gymnastics Mat by AAI
$40.00 |
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 | AAI Cartwheel / Beam Gymnastic Exercise Tumbling Mat
$40.00 |
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|  | 2" Thick 4x6 PINK Folding Gymnastics Gym Tumbling Mat
$149.99 |
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 | AAI Foam Bonded Cheerleading Gymnastic Carpet MAT 4'x6'
$95.00 |
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|  | AAI Cartwheel / Beam Gymnastic Exercise Tumbling Mat
$40.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Foam Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$110.00 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin 8' Balance Beam AAI Gymnastic Pink
$215.00 |
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 | Reisport Ladies Uneven Bar Grips - Velcro Straps
$42.00 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin Gymnastics Junior Balance Beam
$263.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin 4' x 8' Pink and White Folding Gymnastics
$163.95 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin 9' Foam Balance Beam Pink and White
$110.00 |
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 | SA Sport 4x8 Gymnastic Tumbling Exercise Mat Forest GRN
$139.99 |
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|  | AAI Nastia Liukin 4x8 Pink/White Folding Gymnastic Mat
$165.00 |
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 | AAI Octagon foam shapes Cheerleading Gymnastics 15x24
$155.00 |
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|  | AAI Octagon foam shapes Cheerleading Gymnastics 25"x36"
$310.00 |
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 | PVC Gymnastic Rings Crossfit Fitness Training
$28.50 |
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|  | NEW 4'x8'x2" BLUE GYMNASTICS FOAM TUMBLING LANDING MAT
$129.99 |
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 | Gymnastics Spotting & Training Belt (XL)
$79.00 |
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|  | Nastia Liukin Cartwheel / Beam Gymnastics Mat by AAI
$39.00 |
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 | 5' x 10' folding gymnastics panel mat Nastia Liukin AAI
$225.00 |
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|  | Grippy Block Chalk Gymnastics Climbing Weight Lifting
$5.50 |
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 | Gymnastics Incline Mat for Gym and Home Use
$214.00 |
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|  | Resilite Gymnastics Home Use Red Incline Mat
$179.00 |
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 | Nastia Liukin Cartwheel / Beam Gymnastics Mat by AAI
$39.00 |
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