Gymnastics

Gymnastics: 1. Physical exercises designed to improve strength, agility, and coordination 2. The art or practice of such exercises. From the Greek gymnos (naked)

Gymnastics in Ancient Greece were performed by naked athletes, who engaged in what we know today as acrobatics. Acrobats continue to entertain spectators in such extravaganzas as The Cirque de Soleil, but modern competitive gymnastics employ a wide variety of events reflecting the development of modern technology. Calisthenics, a simple form of gymnastics, have been used in modern fitness programs. Soldiers have used rigorous calisthenics to get themselves in shape, often continuing their programs in civilian life.

Anyone who has watched skilled male gymnasts on the rings, pommel horse, parallel bars, and other items of equipment known as apparatus, will notice the musculature of these athletes. Female gymnasts are equally impressive in the speed, agility, skill and coordination demonstrated in their competitive routines. Ancient gymnasts were undoubtedly fit, but modern gymnastic competitions bear little resemblance to their ancient predecessors in Greece.

The seeds for the modern era in gymnastics were probably introduced during the 1896 Olympic Games. For the next fifty or sixty years, gymnastic competitions consisted of synchronized team floor calisthenics, rope climbing, high jumping, horizontal ladder, and other events. During the 1920ıs, women organized and participated in gymnastic events; the first womenıs Olympic competition, involving only synchronized calisthenics, was held at the 1928 Games in Amsterdam

By the 1954 Olympic Games, apparatus and events for both men and women had been standardized in modern format, and uniform grading structure (including a point system from 1-10) had been agreed upon. Soon, Soviet gymnasts were astounding the world with highly disciplined and difficult performances, setting a precedent that continues to inspire. Olga Korbut raised the standard in womenıs gymnastics by winning 4 gold and 2 silver medals in the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics, but it was Nadia Comenci, a wisp of a 14 year old girl from Romania who electrified the gymnastics world with the first perfect scores-six of them-at the Montreal Olympics in ı76.

In 2006, a new points system was put into play. Instead of being marked 1 to 10, the gymnastıs start value depends on the difficulty rating of the exercise routine. It is now more difficult for competitors to achieve perfect scores.

There are approximately 30,000 gymnasts registered in BC, thriving in both school and community programs. Both the East and West Kootenays have had successful programs over the years, and should have strong representation among the 96 young gymnasts, accompanied by 24 coaches and 22 officials. The venue for gymnastics will be Parkland Middle School in Cranbrook.

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