With over 2000 years of history, the sport of gymnastics has evolved quite a bit since initial practices in ancient Greece. Let’s review a brief history of gymnastics from the ancient world to modern artistic gymnastics in the Olympics. Plus, discover how We Sell Mats can support gymnasts with affordable and safe gymnastics equipment.
Gymnastics in the Ancient World
The name gymnastics comes from the Greek word "gymnazein," which means to exercise naked. The ancient Greeks practiced gymnastics among other activities in order to promote physical and mental health.
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn is credited as the father of gymnastics with the invention of his open air gymnasium in 1811, featuring parallel bars, rings and high bar. He thought soldiers could improve morale by developing physical and mental strength through gymnastics.
Gymnastics became an organized sport in 1881 when the Bureau of the European Gymnastics Federation was founded, later becoming the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). The United States Gymnastics Foundation, now USA Gymnastics, was founded in 1970.
Gymnastics in the Olympics
Artistic gymnastics was one of nine sports in the 1896 Athens Games. The first games were limited to male athletes and included parallel bars, pommel horse, rings, rope climbing, horizontal bar and vault. Women gymnasts first competed in the 1928 Amsterdam games. Artistic gymnastics is typically among the most watched sports in the Olympics.
Women’s artistic gymnastics events include: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Men’s artistic gymnastics includes 6 events: vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar, pommel horse, rings and floor exercise.
Gymnastics grew in popularity in the 1970s when the 1972 and 1976 Olympics were televised. Olga Korbut, a gymnast from the Soviet Union, won the gold medal in Beam and Floor Exercise, helping her team win gold. In 1976, Nadia Comaneci, a Romanian gymnast, received the first perfect score in Olympic gymnastics.
In 1996, the Magnificent Seven Olympic team, consisting of: Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Dominique Moceanu, Kerri Strug, Amy Chow, Amanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps, won the first American gold medal in Olympic gymnastics.
Gymnastics Support from We Sell Mats
We Sell Mats is proud to offer a variety of top quality gymnastics equipment and mats to support gymnasts at all levels. From tumbling octagons to cheese wedge incline mats, gymnasts can train in comfort and style! Improve balance and coordination with our balance beams. Stick your landing with confidence when you train with our crash pads and tumbling mats. Choose from a variety of colors and sizes to suit your needs.
Gymnastics is a popular sport with a history tracing back to ancient civilizations. Today, artistic gymnastics is enjoyed by people around the world, as one of the most watched Olympic sports. No matter what level of gymnast you are, We Sell Mats is here to support your gymnastics training journey.