A balance beam is one of the most recognized pieces of equipment used in gymnastics. It is found in most high school gymnasiums and many other facilities. The beam has evolved over time from a bridge-like beam over water to a padded beam over a mat. Just about any gymnastic move can be performed on the beam.
Origins
The balance beam evolved from some of the practice techniques used by ancient and medieval warriors. Many of these fighting men would spar with staffs, swords or their bare hands on a log balanced over a stream or pool. The idea of this technique was to teach coordination and agility.
Schweben
One of the earliest pictures of a balance beam from Germany in 1814 shows two men sparring on a bridge-like beam suspended over a river. This contraption was called the schweben. The original schweben was 40 feet long and suspended over water. It quickly gave way to a much shorter contraption called the Swedish bench. This was a short board which sat about a foot off the ground. German gymnastics pioneers adapted this device for gymnastics by girls in the 1860s.
Gymnasiums
Balance beams and modern gymnastics began in Germany where middle and upper class youth attend schools called gymnasiums. This word gave rise to the English language phrases gym and gymnasiums. The gymnasiums included physical education such as gymnastics.
International Competition
The balance beam did not reach the competition level until 1934. The first recorded use of it in international competition was at the world gymnastics championships in Budapest, Hungary, in that year. The balance beam was first used at the Olympics at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. The first gold medal in the balance beam was awarded to Nina Bocharova of the USSR, now Russia.
Official Balance Beams
The standard modern balance beam was adopted around 1965 when The Little Book of Norms came out. This book states that a standard balance beam should be 120 cm high, hold a maximum weight of 135 kg and bend a maximum of 8 cm. The length of a modern balance beam is about 500 cm. The standard modern balance beam is usually about 10 cm wide and sits about 4 feet off the floor.
Padding
Padded balance beams were not adopted until 1973, eight years after the appearance of these regulations. In the early days gymnasts actually competed on polished wood beams. Today the beams are covered with suede, leather and sometimes rubber. Padded ends are now required to prevent injuries. Most beams sit on a foam rubber pad that is about 5 mm to prevent injuries. A more modern edition is an elastic overlay, which allows gymnasts to perform somersaults and other complex moves on the beam.
Balance Beams Today
Erika Zuchold of Germany was the first woman to perform a back flip on a balance beam in 1964. Today a wide variety of complex moves are made on the balance beam everyday. The moves done on the balance beam are limited only by the imagination and ability.
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