KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

P.O. BOX 1, KYAMBOGO

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF SPORT SCIENCE

NAME: KAZIBWE CLIFORD

REG NO: 23/U/SAD/06754PD

PROGRAM: BACHELORS OF SPORT SCIENCE AND EXERCISES INSTRUCTION

COURSE NAME: GYMNASTICS

COURSE CODE: SXS 1104

SEMESTER: ONE

YEAR: ONE

TASK: INDIVIDUAL COURSEWORK

LECTURER NAME: MS. TEDDY

SIGN………………………………………………………….

Question

History of Gymnastics
Gymnastics are activities composed of system of physical exercises, scientific methods
specifically chosen and aimed at solving problems of comprehensive physical development, to
improve motor skills, maintain and improve the health status of those who practice it.

Gymnastics has existed for more than 2000 years, but has evolved heavily overtime. The history
of Gymnastics to it looks very different from how it started.

Gymnastics started ancient civilization doing strength and acrobatics exercises. The word
gymnastics comes from the Greek word” Gymes” and Gymnazo” meaning roughly to train, to
exercise naked.

Johann Christopher Frendrich Gutsmuthus, a German teacher and educator, is considered the
great grandfather of gymnastics. In 1793 he published a textbook which was later translated to
English as “Gymnastics for youth as a practical Guide to Healthful and amusing exercises to the
use of schools”

A fellow German, Frendrich Lwduig John, is known as the father of gymnastics. He was a
member of the Prussian army in the early 1800s. After a battle in which the Prussian army was
defeated, he came up with the ideas of improving morale by developing physical and mental
strength through gymnastics.

Tumplatz or open air gymnastics in 1811. Parallel Bar, rings and high bar were the early training
was focused on physical health and fitness

In 1881 gymnastics became an “organized sport” when the Bureau of the European Gymnastics
federation, which would later become the instrumental Gymnastics federation (FIG) was formed.
FIG is the current international gymnastics governing body.

At this time, the gymnastics events were different than they are today in fact, they included some
events that are currently fast at track and field.

Gymnastics organization in the US selected the Amateur Athletic union (AAU) became the first
governing body for gymnastics was formed, the United States gymnastics federation, now known
as the USA gymnastics.

History made at the African Artistic Gymnastics championships. Nigeria, Egypt and South
Africa all made history at the Cairo-hosted event in which Tokyo 2020 qualification was at stake.
Nigeria qualified their first ever gymnastic, Uche Eke, and Egypt their first ever male
gymnaists,0mar Mohamed to an Olympic games. South Africa, meanwhile, qualified two artistic
gymnasts to an Olympic Games for the first time, Caitlin Roaskrantz-who had already qualified
for the Game in 2019- in heading to japan in July.

In east Africa Gymnastics was introduce in schools as learning subject more especially in high
schools universities. In Uganda was first introduced in universities like kyambogo physical
Education (P.E)

Since gymnastic basically originated in Germany it’s no surprise that the Germans showed
dominance early. They won the team gold at the 1936 Olympic Games. But after that .the Soviet
Union quickly took over in shaping modern gymnastics history.

When FIG first set an age requirement for the sport of gymnastics, the age was 14 .As the sport
advanced in difficulty there were concerns about the demands and the effort of intense
competitive gymnastics on young gymnasts. So in 1980, FIG raised the minimum age for
gymnasts to compete in the Olympics from 14 to 15 and then 1997 they raised it again from 15
to 16.

In 2019, Simone Bites makes history again as she wins the world championships in Stuttgart,
German and became the first female gymnast to win 21 medals in total (beating out Scetlana
Khorkina who was the previous record holder with 20 world medals). Bite also performs a triple
double on floor exercise and a double tuck dismount on boam, becoming the first gymnast to
compete and land those skills.

In 2020. The international Olympic committee makes the decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics in response to the coronavirus pandemic that affected the entire world. The make
Simone Biles to be the GOAT.

As you can see from this history of gymnastics, the sport of gymnastics has been constantly
evolving over time who knows what’s next.

Reference

Simone Biles teacher gymnastics fundamentals best vocation resorts in Thailand.

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