Gymnastics has always combined grace and flexibility with body control, strength, dexterity, and coordination, making it a fascinating display of physical prowess. If you're considering enrolling your child in classes for this sport, learning about its rich history could help you and your little one get even more excited about joining. Here's a quick course on the sport’s history, so you can share any tidbits you find interesting with your child. 

Where Did Gymnastics Originate? 

Gymnastics started in Ancient Greece as a way for soldiers to stay in top physical condition, although citizens, including women, also joined to remain healthy and strong. Even children in the Greek city of Sparta engaged in these physical feats as part of their education. Very different from what we see today, Greece was where the sport of gymnastics was born. 

After the Roman takeover of Greece, gymnastics activities evolved into formal sporting events for soldiers to exercise their strength and power. Yet, as the Roman influence diminished and Europe entered the Middle Ages, the sport lost its appeal. Tumbling and related activities were then seen as a performance activity, more widely practiced by traveling acrobats and jugglers. 

Growing Popularity

The modern form of the sport dates back to 1793, when German educator Johann Christoph Friedrich Guts-Muths published books outlining two distinct forms for children. The “natural” version focused on physical wellness, while the “artificial” version concerned the sport’s artistic side. Other educators followed suit, including Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, a Prussian and former soldier, who emphasized its patriotic importance following Napoleon's takeover of his country. 

By the late 1880s, the sport had reached U.S. shores, and was included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. The competition was for men only at the time, with women finally allowed to compete in the 1936 games. Female gymnasts in the 1970s, such as the Soviet Union’s Olga Korbut and Romania’s Nadia Comaneci, are credited with cementing its popularity with the perfect "10.0" score.

Gymnastics Today 

Like Korbut and Comaneci from the 1970's, many gymnasts have become household names, including American female athletes like Mary Lou Retton from the '80's, Shannon Miller and Kerri Strug during the '90s, and now currently Shawn Johnson, Aly Raisman, and of course Simone Biles. The sport remains one of the most popular events in the Summer Olympics, with athletes constantly testing new boundaries on the floor, balance beam, uneven bars and vault for women and floor, high bar, rings, parallel bars, pommel horse and vault for men. 

Register your little tumbler with The Gymnastics Training Center of Rochester Inc. in New York. They have served Monroe and Wayne counties since 1987. The 22,000-square-foot facility features experienced, encouraging trainers who follow all U.S.A. Gymnastics safety rules. Call (585) 388-8686 today to enroll, or review the 2021 schedule online.