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