Category: Compulsories

Categories
1952 Compulsories MAG Olympics

1952: The Men’s Compulsories Competition at the Olympics

The men’s artistic gymnastics competition at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics began with a record 29 nations participating. With so many competitors, organizers had to divide the compulsory rounds across two days and three groups, with the first group featuring Olympic favorites such as the Soviet Union, Switzerland, and the host nation, Finland. Excitement filled the Helsinki Exhibition Hall on Saturday morning—before the Olympics officially opened—as fans, judges, and journalists gathered to see the medal favorites. The stakes were high, the nerves palpable, and many believed the final team standings would be largely decided by day’s end.

And they weren’t wrong. From the Swiss press to German technical reports, all agreed: the compulsory routines were the decisive battleground. The Soviet gymnasts, competing for the first time in Olympic history, made an immediate impression, flexing both their power and consistency, especially on rings and pommel horse. But the Swiss weren’t going down quietly, turning in spectacular parallel bars routines that reminded everyone why they were world champions. What unfolded wasn’t just a competition; it was a clash of styles playing out on gymnastics’ grandest stage.

Here’s more than you ever wanted to know about the men’s compulsories in Helsinki…

Dr. Savolainen of Finland on rings at the 1952 Olympics
Continue reading “1952: The Men’s Compulsories Competition at the Olympics”
Categories
1952 Compulsories MAG Olympics WAG

1952: The Compulsory Routines for the Helsinki Olympics

What were the compulsory routines for the Olympic Games in Helsinki?

At the time, the compulsories changed every two years. So, the compulsory routines in Helsinki were different from those prescribed for the 1950 World Championships in Basel.

Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, there aren’t videos of the routines on YouTube. But in this post, you can find the drawings and French text for both the men’s and women’s compulsories.

Continue reading “1952: The Compulsory Routines for the Helsinki Olympics”
Categories
1966 Compulsories MAG World Championships

1966: The Men’s Compulsories for the World Championships in Dortmund

If you’re reading this website, you probably have an affinity for compulsory routines. Heck, if you’re like me, you might even want to learn these old routines.

Well, I have good news for you: I have the official text, stick figures, and deductions for the men’s compulsories at the 1966 World Championships in Dortmund.

And there’s an added bonus: You can find an excerpt from the technical regulations in the PDF below. (They are in French and German.)

An interesting tidbit: Both the men’s and women’s compulsories had similar vaults with sideways landings. That had to feel great on the knees. (You can find the women’s compulsories here.)

Continue reading “1966: The Men’s Compulsories for the World Championships in Dortmund”
Categories
1972 Compulsories MAG Olympics WAG

1972: The Compulsory Routines for the Munich Olympics

At the 1972 Olympics, the men’s compulsories followed the standard format: set routines that each gymnast had to perform exactly as the text stated. (Reminder: In 1969, the FIG decided to make compulsories valid for four years rather than having separate compulsories for the World Championships and Olympic Games.)

The women’s compulsories, on the other hand, took a different path: there were specific skills and a specific order in which those skills had to be performed, but each national team was responsible for designing its own routines.

Let’s take a look at the compulsory routines.

Games of the XXth Olympiad, Munich 1972: Gymnastics Regulations
Continue reading “1972: The Compulsory Routines for the Munich Olympics”
Categories
1970 Compulsories MAG WAG World Championships

1970: The Compulsory Routines for the World Championships in Ljubljana

What were the compulsory routines for the World Championships in Ljubljana?

Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, there aren’t videos of the routines on YouTube. But in this post, you can find the English text and drawings for both the men’s and women’s compulsories.

Continue reading “1970: The Compulsory Routines for the World Championships in Ljubljana”
Categories
1969 Compulsories

1969: Compulsories Extended to Four Years

Compulsory routines used to change every two years. There would be one set of routines for the World Championships, and then, two years later, there would be a new set of routines for the Olympic Games.

That changed in 1969. Though, the Men’s Technical Committee and Women’s Technical Committee took two divergent paths.

A page from the 1972 rulebook for women’s artistic gymnastics
Continue reading “1969: Compulsories Extended to Four Years”
Categories
Compulsories Floor Music Olympics WAG World Championships

1958-1996: Compulsory Floor Music over the Decades

As far as FIG events are concerned, women’s individual floor exercise was first introduced at the 1950 World Championships, but at the time, gymnasts did not use floor music. In fact, at the 1950 FIG Congress, the delegates had to decide if gymnasts should perform to music at the 1952 Olympics, and they voted against it (eight votes to three).

It wasn’t until 1958 that music was introduced for individual floor routines, both compulsory and optional. 

Below, you’ll find recordings of the music for the compulsory routines from 1958 until 1996. For some of you, the music will bring back fond memories. For others, it’ll bring back nightmares. But hopefully, you’ll find a piece you enjoy listening to.

19 Sep 1988: Phoebe Mills does her floor exercise during the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Mandatory Credit: Billy Strickland /Allsport
Continue reading “1958-1996: Compulsory Floor Music over the Decades”
Categories
1962 Compulsories MAG WAG World Championships

1962: The Compulsory Routines for the World Championships

What were compulsory routines at the 1962 World Championships?

Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, there aren’t videos of the routines on YouTube. But in this post, you can find the English text for the men’s compulsories, as well as the English text and drawings for the women’s compulsories.

Continue reading “1962: The Compulsory Routines for the World Championships”
Categories
1968 Compulsories MAG Olympics

1968: The Men’s Compulsories Competition in Mexico City

When we think of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, we think of the questionable judging in women’s gymnastics and the political protest of Věra Čáslavská on the podium after the floor finals.

Over the years, a piece of FIG gossip has been forgotten. It happened after the men’s compulsories. Arthur Gander, the FIG president, threatened to ban a coach from competition.

So, let’s dive into the men’s compulsories, eh?

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – OCTOBER 22: Mikhail Voronin of the Soviet Union competes in the Rings of the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Team Compulsory during the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games at the National Auditorium on October 22, 1968 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
Continue reading “1968: The Men’s Compulsories Competition in Mexico City”
Categories
1968 Compulsories Olympics WAG

1968: The Women’s Compulsory Routines for the Olympics

Let’s take a look at the compulsories for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, including the piano sheet music!

The bar routine turned out to be brutal. Every single team had at least one gymnast score in the 8s (or lower) — even the Soviet Union.

Continue reading “1968: The Women’s Compulsory Routines for the Olympics”