At the 1977 European Championships, something new happened. Instead of there being six gymnasts in event finals, which had been the norm for nearly two decades, there were eight gymnasts in each apparatus final.
I know, it doesn’t sound like a major change, but the FIG lagged behind other sports like track and field, which started allowing eight finalists instead of six in the 1960s.
But catching up to other sports wasn’t the only reason for including more gymnasts in finals. It was also to offer more opportunity to other athletes or, as it was phrased, to offer “greater equality of chance.” Arthur Gander and the executive committee, however, weren’t in favor of this proposal.
Let’s dive into what the FIG bulletins said…
Quick Refresher
Contrary to popular belief, the two-per-country rule during apparatus finals was not a feel-good story about the FIG trying to include more countries and spread the medals around. It was essentially an IOC mandate after the 1972 Olympic Games, which the FIG first instated at the 1976 Olympic Games. (You can read the IOC’s demands and the FIG’s solutions here.)
Including eight gymnasts instead of six, on the other hand, was about inclusion and giving more gymnasts more opportunities. Here’s how West Germany wrote its proposal in 1975:
Germany Federal Republic [i.e. West Germany]
[…]
4. Finals at the apparatus
During the finals at the apparatus (competition No. 3) at FIG championships, the number of finalists will be increased from 6 to 8 gymnasts. The same aim should be pursued for the gymnastic competitions at the [O]lympic [G]ames.
Reasons: Greater equality of chance. Various other [O]lympic disciplines adopted this satisfactory measure some time ago.
FIG Bulletin, No. 1, 1975
Extract from the minutes of the Assembly General held in Berne-Switzerland on 29th and 30th May 1975
Note: The phrase “égalité de chances” (“equal opportunity”) was often used by sports federations. For example, it was used to rationalize the IAAF’s decision to ban the new “super-light” poles for pole vault at the Munich Olympics:
The poles used in the Olympic vaulting events at the Munich Games will have to conform to those normally found on the market since August 1971. This decision was taken in Munich by the Technical Committee of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to ensure “equal opportunity” for all competitors. The new ‘super-light’ poles in use in the USA have so far only been available to a limited number of athletes, notably the American Bob Seagren and the Swede Kjell Isaksson, who have dramatically improved the world record in this speciality.
Gazette de Lausanne, July 24, 1972
Les perches utilisées lors des épreuves olympiques de saut aux Jeux de Munich devront être conformes à celles que l’on trouve normalement dans le commerce depuis août 1971. Cette décision a été prise à Munich par la comission technique de la Fédération internationale (IAAF) pour respecter “l’égalité des chances” des concurrents. Les nouvelles perches ‘superlégères’ en usage aux Etats-Unis n’ont en effect jusqui’ici été accessibles qu’à un nombre limité d’athlètes, notamment l’Américain Bob Seagren et le Suédois Kjell Isaksson, qui ont fait progresser de manière spectaculaire le recurd du monde de la spécialité.
Voting in 1976
In 1976, the assemblies that met in Montréal had to vote on West Germany’s proposal to increase the number of athletes in event finals. The Men’s Technical Plenary Assembly approved it by a majority.
German Fed. Rep.
Increase the number of participants in the finals at FIG manifestations.
Accepted by a majority.
FIG Bulletin, no. 4, 1976
Extract from the Minutes of the Meeting Held on 13 July, 1976, in Montreal
The Women’s Technical Plenary Assembly unanimously voted in favor:
Federal Rep. of Germany
Finals with 8 gymnasts. Unanimous agreement.
FIG Bulletin, no. 4, 1976
Extract from the minutes of the meetings held on 11th and 12th July, 1976, in Montreal
However, Arthur Gander, who was the president of the FIG at the time, and the Executive Committee were not in favor because it would not “increase the value of this competition.”
Federal Republic of Germany
Increase the number of finalists from 6 to 8
The President and the Executive Committee are of the opinion that the fact of increasing the number of participants in the finals from 6 to 8 would in no way increase the value of this competition. The two Technical Assemblies, on the other hand, are in favor of this increase. We can therefore follow their lead and wait and see what the results are.
FIG Bulletin, No. 4, 1976
Nevertheless, after 1976, the FIG moved forward with eight gymnasts in finals instead of six. The 1977 European Championships was the first of the major competitions to include the changed quotas, and the 1978 World Championships were the first to use the new format.
But the Olympics…
But there was one catch: the Olympics. If you’ve looked at the results of the 1980 Olympics, there are only six gymnasts in the event finals, and there’s a reason for that.
Remember how eight gymnasts were approved for “FIG manifestations?” Well, the FIG never approved eight gymnasts for IOC’s events — just for the FIG’s events.
At the General Assembly in 1979, after a couple of years of the new format for event finals, France said, “Hey! What about the upcoming Olympics? Should we include eight gymnasts in event finals instead of six at the Olympic Games?” And, although there was a desire to implement this change, that type of change would have required prior approval of the IOC.
Here’s how the Men’s Technical Plenary Assembly voted:
France
8 Participants in Competition No. 3 at the Olympic Games
This would involve a change in the technical regulations and prior approval by the IOC.
Decision: 38 votes in favor, 0 vote against.
FIG Bulletin of Information, No. 1, 1980
Men’s Technical Plenary Assembly
Extract from the minutes of the meetings held in Fort Worth on 28th and 29th November, 1979
On the women’s side, they didn’t even vote in 1979:
France
[…]
e) Finals at the apparatus
As this proposal was not published in full in the Bulletin, the delegate Mrs. Thiébault, was asked to rephrase the proposal for the next congress. A change can only be made after 1980.
Women’s Technical Plenary Assembly
Bulletin of Information, no. 1, 1980
So, in the end, 1984 would be the first Olympic Games with eight gymnasts in the apparatus finals.
More on the Evolution of the Sport
One reply on “1977: Introducing Eight Gymnasts in Event Finals”
“Arthur Gander, who was the president of the FIG at the time, and the Executive Committee were not in favor because it would not ‘increase the value of this competition.'” Once again, nobody hates gymnastics more than the FIG. Incredible how the leadership of this organization has consistently held over the decades that what gymnastics really needs is fewer days of competition with fewer gymnasts and less gymnastics actually occurring 🥴