Gymnastics

Lauren SmithFebruary 25, 2013

Tumbling…

or

Tumbling?

Objectives

• What gymnastics is• Where it originated• How famous it became

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM27zWHO7U4

What gymnastics is• According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, gymnastics is a

competitive sport where individuals perform acrobatic feats mostly on special apparatus in order to demonstrate strength, balance, and body control.

• Women’s events are vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.

• Other types include tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics, and group gymnastics.

http://gymnastics.about.com/od/gymnastics101/a/What-Is-Gymnastics.htm

Where did it originate?• The Ancient Greeks practiced gymnastics as a way to prepare

for war.

• Friedrich Jahn became known as the "father of gymnastics". He designed and introduced the horizontal bar, parallel bars, balance beam, side horse, with pommels, ladder, and vaulting horse.

• Included in the Olympics since the first modern Games in 1896.

http://www.elkhartymca.org/elkhart-county-blog/where-did-gymnastics-come-from

Popularity• Today, gymnastics is often termed the ultimate

combination of sport and art, but the idea is nothing new. Plato, Homer and Aristotle strongly advocated the strengthening qualities of gymnastic activity.

• One of the oldest sports that have been part of the Olympics.

• Today gymnastics is one of the most popular Olympic sports.

• Thousands sign up for gymnastics everyday.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-of-gymnastics.htmlhttp://gymnastics.isport.com/gymnastics-guides/history-of-gymnastics

Famous Gymnasts

• Shannon Miller, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin and many others, have carried gymnastics popularity throughout the world.

Recap

• Gymnastics is a sport where physical exercise is designed to develop and display strength, balance, and agility.

• It originated in the 18th and 19th centuries.• It is still in the Olympics today and becoming

more popular.

Sources

• http://gymnastics.about.com/od/gymnastics101/a/What-Is-Gymnastics.htm

• http://www.elkhartymca.org/elkhart-county-blog/where-did-gymnastics-come-from

• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-of-gymnastics.html

• http://gymnastics.isport.com/gymnastics-guides/history-of-gymnastics

Want to know more?

• http://www.fabergefollies.biz/#!__gymnastics

• les5452@psu.edu