More Gymnastics News

Who Is Anastasia Liukin? US Gymnast Gabby Douglas’ Now-Former Coach

Gabby Douglas announces her departure from the WOGA, here's the talent she will miss out on after parting ways with coach Anastasia Liukin.
Gabby Douglas

“No Evidence She Lied”: Accused Of Fake COVID, Gabby Douglas Receives Mass Support From Gymnastics Fans

Fans jump in defense of Gabby Douglas as speculations on faking COVID hit the internet added by recent news on training withdrawal from WOGA.

Will Gabby Douglas Train With Simone Biles, After Calling Quits on Long-Time Coaches?

Gabby Douglas' exit from WOGA led many to think that she'll join Simone Biles for training. A new update has now added more fire to it.
Sad Gabby Douglas, USA Gymnastics, Source – X

Gymnastics News: ‘Annoyed’ Fred Richard Influences Young Gymnasts With His Story of Struggle

Despite facing setbacks and lagging behind due to his age, Fred Richard's perseverance and resilience serve as hope for aspiring gymnasts,

Simone Biles Faces Emotional Tug on Fun-Filled Vacation With Husband Jonathan Owens

Away on a tropical vacation with husband Jonathan Owens for a fun-filled wedding, Simone Biles shares missing presence in the duo's merriment
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“I Can’t Blame You”: Simone Biles’ Spontaneous Decision in Hawaii Catches Eyes

Gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles slays with new Hawaii photo drop as fans get shocked over her new look and a surprising announcement.
Simone

“I’m Always Speechless”: Overwhelmed Simone Biles Responds to Huge Nomination

Simone Biles gets emotional over landing a huge nomination for her stellar 2023 campaign. Showers her love on all her well-wishers.
2023 U.S. Classic

“Want That to Change”: Teen Gymnast Fred Richard Sends a Powerful Message During Black History Month Amid Paris Olympics Prep

As the gymnastics world gears up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, young prodigy Fred Richard shares an empowering message with the world.
Fred Richard

“I Had a Dream”: Gymnast Icon Fred Richard on the Moment That Catapulted Him to Become a TikTok Sensation

The most celebrated men's gymnast in the US, Fred Richard credits TikTok to have bolstered his professional career when he needed the most.
Fred Richard

NCAA Gymnastics Update: After Suffering From Injury, UCLA Gymnast Chae Campbell Reveals Her Future on Beam

UCLA gymnast Chae Campbell's discusses her comeback after injury after the matchup against Cal. It includes a career-high score on bar.
Chae Campbell, Source_ Instagram

22YO Air Force Cadet Wins Prestigious Award for World-Class Performance at 2024 USA Gymnastics Winter Cup

Patrick Hoopes, the pommel horse pole finisher has made his way to the Air Force's heart. Now, the gymnastics icon boasts of a title.
Hoopes

NCAA Gymnastics News: Ranking at No 2 LSU Calls Out Fans for Support In War Against Alabama

After earning season's best road score of 197.950 against Florida, LSU Gymnastics team is ready to beat Alabama in the coming events.
LSU gymnastics (1)

About Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a collection of physical exercises requiring a lot of strength, agility, balance, and flexibility. It is closely related to circus performing skills as athletes put their bodies to the fullest use. Likewise, there are various disciplines for gymnasts to showcase their talents. Thus, it evolved from ancient Greeks that included skills to mounting to dismounting a horse. The competitive form of gymnastics is called artistic gymnastics. It involves various events for women like the floor, vault, uneven bars, and the beam. For men, they have floor, vault, rings, pommel horse, parallel bars, and horizontal bars. Therefore, the sport is famous for its aesthetic values and the Olympics draws major crowds to the gymnastics arena.

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History of Gymnastics

Gymnastics originated from the Greek term, 'to exercise naked,' applied in ancient Greece exercises. These exercises became a mainstay at the Olympics but most of the competition came from ancient roots. There are stone engravings found in Shandong province during the Han Period (206 BCE–220 CE) where they portrayed acrobatics. Like every sport, the person credited for making the sport famous was Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, founder of the Turnverein movement as he helped to spread gymnastics across the world.

Most of the exercises were conducted on the playground. Therefore, various events came into existence. They held the first Gymnastics festival in 1860 in Coburg. The Americans were introduced to Gymnastics in the late 1820s while the Federation Internationale Gymnastique was founded in 1881 to organize the event. The 1896 Olympic Games saw the starting stages of gymnastics being introduced to the world. 

The Sport

There are three divisions of artistic gymnastics- artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline. There are six events for men and the all around event where they combine scores from every discipline. For women, there are four exercises and a similar all around event, both team and individual events. Apart from artistic gymnastics, there is rhythmic gymnastics and is practiced only by women. Trampoline is the other discipline of gymnastics and introduced itself at the 2000 Olympic Games. As years pass by, various gymnasts showcased their athletic skills to the masses in attendance.

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Famous gymnasts in the world

Simone Biles:

In terms of pure dominance, Simone Biles enters the list as arguably the greatest gymnast of all time. She is the most decorated gymnast in the World Championships, winning four gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. The 2016 Rio Olympics saw her winning four gold medals and completely dominated the events. She has 25 World Championships medals to her name and her stance on mental health helps her become an influential person in the society.

Larisa Latynina:

Winning nine gold medals at the Olympics is astonishing and Larisa Latynina ranks on top of the famous gymnast charts. After Michael Phelps, she has the most Olympic medals with 18. She popularized the sport of gymnastics and was the first star in the sport. Her iconic performances will go down to the gymnastics folklore.

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Nadia Comaneci:

Achieving a perfect 10.0 score in gymnastics is amazing. But, doing it at the Olympics, when just turning 14, placed Nadia Comaneci amongst the pantheon of greats. The 1976 Olympics saw her earning seven perfect scores. She won five Olympic gold medals out of the nine she won.

Svetlana Khorkina:

With a total of 47 Olympic, World and European Championships medals, Svetlana Khorkina is a remarkable gymnast. She became the first gymnast to win three all-around titles at the World Championships while winning five gold medals in the uneven bars at World Championships. Her success in the uneven bars earned her the moniker 'The Queen of Bars.'