Ancient Times

• The origins of gymnastics date to ancient Greece, as mentioned by ancient authors including Aristotle, Plato and Homer. The word "gymnastics" comes from “gymnos,” the Greek word for “naked,” because the first gymnasts performed without clothes. The ancient Greeks and Romans used to go to the “gymnasium” to exercise their bodies and please their minds with cultural activities such as music and philosophy.
  
  

Modern Times

• The term “artistic gymnastics” appeared at the beginning of the 19th century, and it distinguishes the free-flowing style from the military training techniques. During the 20th century, artistic gymnastics flourished in sport clubs across Europe, and it initially included rock lifting, club swinging and swimming. Gymnastics has been an official discipline of the modern Olympics since 1896, and since then participants have struggled to attain perfection in their routines. The 14-year-old Romanian Nadia Comaneci was the first to achieve it at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 when she obtained the perfect score of 10 and three Olympic gold medals.
  
  

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics

• Women perform on four apparatuses at artistic gymnastic competitions. They are the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise mat. The vault is the same for men and women. For qualifying in the vault finale, the gymnasts need to perform two vaults, for which their scores are averaged. The uneven bars require continuous moving and swinging, and the exercise needs to include movements above and below the bars. The uneven bars routine ends with a spectacular dismount. The routine on the balance beam is an artistic fusion of gymnastic leaps, acrobatics and balance elements in sitting, standing and lying positions. The dismounts are spectacular, and the maximum time on the beam is 1 1/2 minute. The floor exercise combines dances movements with acrobatic elements, all accompanied by music.
  
  

Men’s Artistic Gymnastics

• Men compete at six apparatuses in the artistic gymnastic competitions. They are the floor exercise mat, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. The floor exercise needs to combine balance and flexibility and include movements such as leaps, twists and slaps. The gymnast needs to use the entire floor area. The pommel horse routine is a chain of pendulum and circular swings, scissor movements and double leg circles. For the rings routine, the gymnast demonstrates balance and strength by performing a variety of movements. The vault routine needs to prove powerful rotations and a controlled landing. The parallel bars require the same movements as the rings, and the gymnast works both below and above the bars. For the performance at the horizontal bar, the gymnast performs a variety of swinging movements without touching the bar with his body.
  
  

Major Competitions

• Gymnasts compete in national and international competitions and championships every year. The World Artistic Gymnastics Championships have taken place annually since 1903, except for years with Summer Olympics. The Summer Olympics take place every four years, and artistic gymnastics is one of the most popular sports of the competition. National gymnastic federations organize annual continental and national championships.