Gymnastics has been around for over 2000 years, however, it has only been competitive for the last 100 years, and it has only been in America since the 1830's
 

First Major Competition

  • the 1st large scale competition was ate the 1896 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Germany took almost every medal, and 5 other countries participated in the competition.

  • The 1st World Championship was in 1903 and it was held in Antwerp, Belgium.

  
   

Major Women's Competitions

  • The very 1st women's team debuted in the 1928 Olympics.

  • The 1st U.S. women's team debuted in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
 

Some Gymnastics Terms

Aerial- a stunt in which the gymnast turns completely over in the air without touching the apparatus with their hands

Apparatus- one of the various pieces of equipment used in gymnastics competitions, such as vault, bars, beam, and floor

Dismount- to leave the apparatus at the end of a routine

Execution- performance of a routine

Kip- movement from a position below the bar to a position above the bar

Routine- a combination of stunts displaying 

Twist- a twist occurs when the gymnast rotates around the body's longitudinal axis, defined by the spine

Tuck- a position in which knees and hips are bent and drawn into the chest

 

  
   
 
       
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