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Denver Lynch
Mrs R. Petre
English IV Honors
9 March 2017
Gymnastics
Gymnastics have been around for many and will continue to be around for many more
(History of Gymnastics).. Gymnastics though has been around for many generations and has
expanded ever since, it shows many forms of art and benefits to the human body with mix of
Gymnastics is a sport that brings together the mind, soul, and body that brings forth
beauty (Bentlon). Its one of the oldest sports in American history. It came about in Athens,
greece where men started out as the career of the sport than women came later. The history of
this sport has been around for many generations and many to come. The modern word
gymnasium made its first appearance in the Hellenistic Greek period as open-air arenas where
gymnasts could practice. Gymnastics was equal to the time spent on art and music combined. All
Greek cities had a gymnasium, a courtyard for jumping, running, and wrestling (History Of
Gymnastics|Timeline). Also activities such as rings, pommel horse, and the floor exercises were
all first exhibited at the Greek Olympics. Gymnastics was coveted so much in ancient Greek
culture that it was made mandatory for all Greek students. The fourth Macedonian War of BC
150 brought the whole of the Grecian states under Roman control. This event brought much of
Greek culture into the scope of Roman society, and gymnastics was one of the cultural aspects
absorbed by Rome. The ever-expanding Roman Empire used gymnastics to keep its troops in
peak fighting condition. Through its conquests, Rome was able to spread the seeds of gymnastics
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throughout the ancient world from Africa to England. In AD 393, Emperor Theodosius outlawed
the Greek Olympic Games (History of Gymnastics | ISport.com) .This decree was a major hit
to the sport. The sport was expanded throughout the Hellenistic period where it transcended
military exercise and was incorporated into everyday civilian life, thanks to its inclusion in the
Greek Olympics. Exercises of the Ancient Greeks began with athletic feats performed by each
individual according to his own notion. The youth were encouraged to combine amusement with
exercise (History of Gymnastics | ISport.com.). In time, this kind of exercise was incorporated
into a system that figured prominently in the state regulations for education. In fact, the period
for exercise or sports such as gymnastics nearly died out completely. Later on when the US
military brought gymnastics training to America in the late 1800s, the sport quickly caught on as
a popular mental and physical exercise among the civilian middle and upper classes. This
popularity among the citizenry led to the formation of the first organized gymnasiums and
The rings of blue, black, yellow, red and green, which make up one of the most
recognized symbols in the world, traditionally represent the five different areas of the world
involved in the Olympics as in North and South America are considered one area, along with
Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe (What Do the Olympic Rings Represent?" ). The competition
was held in 1896 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Germany has been the team that is getting every
medal. Five countries have been included in these events. Men's gymnastics started in 1896
however women's gymnastics started of the year of 1928. Men's competitions included
horizontal bar, parallel bars, pommel horse, rings, and vault. The first international event
following 1896 Olympics was held in 1903 in Antwerp, Belgium. There competed gymnasts
from such places as Belgium, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. This event is now
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considered the first World Championship (What Do the Olympic Rings Represent?" ). By 1954,
the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had laid down a series of rules and a scoring system
first and foremost responsibility is to ensure that the Olympics are continued every four years.
This task involves coordinating with sponsor nations to ensure the safety, and availability of
venues for events. It also includes coordinating with companies who will sponsor the Olympic
Games for advertising space as they provide a source of funding to pay for the events to take
place. The committee decides which venues will be used and how to best utilize the resources
available to ensure that all events at the Olympic Games are conducted properly. They decide
which events are to be held, their timing, and if new events will be introduced to the Olympics.
The Committee also owns all of the trademarks, symbols, and rights to broadcast the events.
They serve as the financial custodian of the Olympic Games and often vote on key decisions
The Olympic gymnastics engaged in today can be divided into three main categories:
artistic, trampoline and rhythmic. The main type is the women's artistic gymnastics which is the
first to sell out at the olympic games that consists of vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor
exercise. ( "Did You Know There Are 6 Different Types of Gymnastics?). Men's gymnastics is
the second most popular type of gymnastics in the United States and the oldest form of
gymnastics. Men compete on six apparatus: floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault,
parallel bars and horizontal bar (usually called high bar). Olympic competition is held in the
same format as womens artistic gymnastics, with team, all-around and individual events
competition. The only difference is that the men compete across their six events, whereas the
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women compete across their four events. Now rythmic gymnastics Gymnasts perform jumps,
tosses, leaps and other moves with different types of apparatus. This is currently a female-only
sport in the Olympics. ("Did You Know There Are 6 Different Types of Gymnastics?)
Over the time leotards and the costumes of gymnasts wear has evolved since the
beginning of gymnastics history (Olympics Leotards). The costumes is a big factor so training
and performance is flawless in front of the judges and is more comfortable while doing all the
exercises. In 1896, the first olympics game in Athens, Greece, started off with mustached men
who wore basically rags or sleepwear. Women were not actually competing in the olympics at the
time but the clothing attire would probably be just as similar. Eventually women could compete
in 1908 and their clothing attire came to be more like white dresses. The unnatural "S" figures
that were pushed and pulled with bustles and corsets were replaced with a straight, natural figure
back in the early 1910s days. The waist was loosened, and a straight line was adopted.
Additionally, the frills and flounces of the previous decade were gone. The hobble skirt, seen
below, caught on quickly. This style remained the height of fashion until around 1915 (Stratford).
Since women back in those times, Life for women during the period 1910-1920 was generally
not good. This is because they were considered second class citizens with most of their basic
rights restricted. In most countries women were not allowed to vote so their right of choice was
infringed on since they had no say in the choice of leaders or laws that governed the societies
they lived in (Stratford). Women of different social and economic classes had different
opportunities. They were basically forced to not show any skin or people would judge them to
death. Later on in 1948, women began to wear actual leotards once gymnastics was becoming
more popular. The leotards were still not fitting but definitely showing more skin back in the
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1900s (Olympic Leotards). Finally in 1960, leos got more colorful and playful. Styles altered
dramatically, with different leos used for different programs. Today leotards range from fairly
modest, long sleeves, high neckline, full bottom, to incredibly revealing, showing a lot of skin
(Olympic Leotards). Most of the gymnastics base their outfits on their performance and higher
There have been many debates if gymnastics is really a benefit to the world and the
human body. Meanwhile, more and more people are contributing in the sport and has grown ever
since. Gymnastics has several great benefits to an individual's health and overall body mechanics
cognitive skills (The Benefits of Doing Gymnastics......). Increased flexibility is a big deal
when it comes to taking gymnastics serious. It can be effective in the reduction of injury,
preventing people from forcing a limb to an injurious range of motion. A flexible individual can
Increased self-esteem has been included in study by researchers at the Robert Wood
Johnson Medical School have indicated that children who participate in physical activity like
gymnastics are likely to have better self-esteem and self-efficiency (Craig). Strong and healthy
bones is an participation in weight-bearing activities, can develop strong, healthy bones, which is
important to develop at a young age. As we grow older, we experience a decrease in bone mass
every year. Building strong, healthy bones at a young age can help reduce the risks of developing
Participating in gymnastics does not only offer physical gains but can be an increased
cognitive function, it is beneficial for improving concentration and mental focus. The sport
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allows children the chance to think for themselves, to stimulate their imaginations and to solve
problems safely (Benefits Of Gymnastics."). Daily exercise needs is a must when included in
physical activity per day. Adults should participate in 30 minutes of exercise at least five days
per week. Gymnastics helps meet the exercise recommendations set forth by the American Heart
the world. The sport uses body weight exercises to build upper body, lower body and core
strengths. participation in weight bearing activities including gymnastics which can develop
strong, healthy bones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that weight
bearing exercises help promote bone density. Increased bone density is important for helping
young individuals grow. As a gymnast ages, they are likely to experience a decrease in bone
mass every year. Building strong, healthy bones while young can help reduce the risks of
Discipline is a must when teaching Gymnastics instills a sense of discipline. Students must
have the self control to make corrections when a instructed, and they must also have the self
discipline to stay on task when the coach is working with others (Springfit).
Social skills increases and provides an opportunity to develop social skills. Younger children
learn how to stand in line, look, listen, be quiet when others at talking, work and think
independently, and how to be respectful of others. The older kids learn how to set a good
example for the people who look up to them and become role models at a young age. For some
people gymnastics helps them to build lifelong relationships with other gymnasts (Springfit).
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multiple health conditions such as asthma, cancer, obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Being
involved in gymnastics helps a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity and eating a
well balanced diet (Benefits Of Gymnastics). Stretching out your joints while doing gymnastic
exercises can also lift off a lot of stress and pressure in your bones and those ligaments.
Illustration 1: Deusen
Illustration 2: Graves
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Works Cited
"Benefits Of Gymnastics." Benefits Of. N.p., 10 Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.
Deusen, Amy Van. Your Handy Introduction to the Sport of Gymnastics. ThoughtCo,
"Did You Know There Are 6 Different Types of Gymnastics? - By North Atlantic
Graves, Will. Biles, Douglas Headline US Women's Gymnastics Team. NBC 7 San
31 Mar. 2017.
Peters, Craig. "Chapter 2: It's All About Attitude." Techniques Of Dance For
srgymnastics.com/Santa_Rosa_Gymnastics_%26_Elite_Cheer/Benefits_of_Gymnastics.html.
"What Do the Olympic Rings Represent?" What Do the Olympic Rings Represent? -