One of the most anticipated of all the Olympic events is the sport of gymnastics. This sport showcases the body as it is pushed to its limits in strength, poise and flexibility. Gymnastics is one of the most ancient sports still actively pursued. Its history is long and convoluted, with many changes to the sport adding new flavor.
Early Origins and The Greeks
Gymnastics as a sport didn't really have one "big bang" moment when it all began. Acrobats entertained the Egyptians over 7,000 years ago and there are frescos that depict gymnasts on Crete in 2,700 B.C. The actual word "gymnastics" is derived from the ancient Greek word "gymnos," which means "nude." This is appropriate as the Greeks did gymnastics in the nude in a building designed for it, complete with baths and changing rooms. The Romans kept the tradition of the Greeks going, adding the use of a wooden horse to running, jumping, weightlifting, throwing, wrestling and swimming. The Romans, however, used gymnastics as training for army troops.
Middle Ages
After the fall of Rome and the domination of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages, most things which had to do with the exercise or physical fitness were lost. However, there are records of acrobats that traveled with minstrel shows, so the art was not completely lost.
17th and 18th centuries
Modern gymnastics got back on track with the creation of an exercise program by Johann Guts Muth in the late 1700s. This led to the creation of a gymnastics institution in Copenhagen in 1799. This got the notice of the Crown Price of Denmark, who saw the military applications and founded the Military Gymnastic Institute in 1804. It was during this renaissance that several new techniques were added, such as the uneven bars.
19th Century
Gymnastics began to spread throughout Europe as primarily a military training program. However, as gymnastics began to grow, it started to get away from the traditional military applications. In 1860, the first civilian federation was formed in Germany, with Austria-Hungary and Poland following soon after. By the 1870s almost every European country had their own national gymnastics organization, which led to the founding of the European Gymnastics Federation in 1881.
Today
Gymnastics has been part of every single modern Olympic games. The sport has grown in the Olympic arena with the addition of women in 1928, the addition of various pieces of apparatus in 1958, rhythmic gymnastics in 1984 and the trampoline event in 2000.
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