The earliest gymnastic events, the vault and pommel horse, were originally used by the Romans for equestrian training in 375 A.D. But while gymnastics had their beginnings in ancient Rome and Greece, official gymnastic competitions didn't begin until the 1900s. Early competitions, including the early Games of the Modern Olympic era, featured a variety of events including rope climbing and club swinging along with traditional athletics events such as the 100m sprint, shot put and long jump. The number and type of gymnastics events varied widely over the years but following World War II, the events have remained consistent with the traditional six events for men and four events for women.
The sports governing body, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), was formed in 1881 and introduced the FIG Code of Points in 1949. The Code of Points still serves as the sport's official rulebook.
Throughout the history of the gymnastics, individual creativity has led to major innovations in the sport. In 1909, Alberto Braglia (ITA) performed the first giant swing in stretched position to the same support and the backward salto from handstand to help his team win the all-around team gold medal at the 1912 Games. Japanese vaulters Haruhiro YAMASHITA and Mitsuo TSUKAHARA added original vaults that are now staples in any routine.
At the 1924 Games in Paris, men began to compete for individual Olympic titles on each apparatus, as well as in combined individual and team exercises.
Women first competed at the Olympic Games in 1928 and made their first appearance at the World Championships in 1934. The original women's program consisted of a performance similar to rhythmic gymnastics, a vault and an exercise using an apparatus of the gymnasts' choice. The floor exercise also made its debut in 1928 although it was more of a calisthenics event than the high-energy tumbling and acrobatics of today.
As younger athletes earned spots on Olympic teams, women's gymnastics evolved further in the 1970s. Led by teenage personalities Olga KORBUT of the Soviet Union in 1972 and Nadia COMANECI of Romania in 1976, the sport surged in popularity with charismatic and daring performances. The sport's youngest woman Olympic medalist, Comaneci became the first athlete to score a perfect 10 in Olympic competition. Alexsandr DITYATIN (URS) earned the honor for men in 1980 with a 10.0 in the vault in 1980.
This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publication Department.
Written by Diana Drayson and Howard Thomas.
| Pin trading was one of the most popular Olympic sports, with more than 1.2 million pins changing hands during the Games in the Coca Cola Pin Trading Center at Centennial Olympic Park. |