History of Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a very popular sport. This is a precision sport which involves the performance of a sequence of movements in a highly coordinated and synchronized manner. These movements require physical strength and flexibility. Gymnastics is all about the suppleness of the body. The gymnast should have a sense of balance, endurance and physical grace. The gymnast should be comfortable with skills like handsprings, handstands, split leaps, aerials and cartwheels.

Gymnastics as a sport evolved in ancient Greece It was started as a beauty and fitness practice during those times. Initially, the skills of mounting and dismounting from a horse formed part of this great sport. Gymnastics became a full fledged sport after it was separated from the skill required by circus performers. Russia has been a front runner in the field of gymnastics in the past decade. China and US have also made a significant mark.

Physical fitness was extremely important for the ancient Greeks. There was a gymnasium in all Greek cities. This gymnasium was, in fact, a courtyard for jumping, running and wrestling. With the increase of the Roman influence, Greek gymnastics became part of the military training. In 393 AD, Emperor Theodosius stopped the Olympic Games. On account of medieval beliefs of Christianity during the Dark Ages, gymnastics as a sport could not grow in popularity. For many centuries, gymnastics remained nothing but a forgotten sport.

Gymnastics was reborn in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. During this period, two pioneer physical instructors named Friedrich and Jahn designed an apparatus for boys and young men to exercise on. This was called as the parallel bar. This led to the birth of modern gymnastics.

By the end of the nineteenth century, gymnastics among men became very popular. It was included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. There have been a number of International competitions from that day onwards. Women first participated in the gymnastic events in the 1928 games of Amsterdam.

Gymnastics as a sport is unique because of the precision, training, discipline and hard work that are required of the participant. It is a very graceful sport.