Category: Evolution

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1977 European Championships Evolution FIG Bulletin FIG Congress

1977: Introducing Eight Gymnasts in Event Finals

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…

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1957 Evolution

1957: On the Origins of Event Finals

This might be hard to believe, but, once upon a time, event finals did not exist. I know, right? Most gymnastics fans cannot remember an era without them. However, there was a period when the concept of “finals” didn’t exist. Team medals, all-around medals, and apparatus medals were all determined by the same set of scores: compulsories plus optionals.

After the 1956 Olympics, that changed. Not only were the women’s group rhythmic exercises struck from the program, but apparatus finals were also created at the behest of the International Olympic Committee. As a result, the 1958 World Championships and the 1960 Olympic Games were the first major FIG competitions with apparatus finals.

Here’s what the FIG leadership wrote to the IOC in 1957 about the disappearance of the ensemble exercises and the creation of event finals.

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1973 Evolution FIG Bulletin

1973: Two per Country

In 1973, the IOC Programming Commission and the FIG engaged in a delicate dance in which the IOC presented a list of concerns and the FIG had to come up with solutions that appeased the IOC. (This wasn’t new. For example, in 1957, this dance led to the elimination of group rhythmic exercises in women’s gymnastics and the creation of event finals.)

In 1973, one of the IOC’s concerns was the number of gymnasts per country in the all-around and event finals. The FIG’s solution allowed only three gymnasts per country into the all-around finals and two gymnasts per country into the apparatus finals. 

Keep in mind that the apparatus finals, in particular, were heavily dominated by the top teams. For example, at the 1972 Olympics, there were four Soviet gymnasts in the women’s vault finals, four Japanese gymnasts in the men’s floor finals, and five Japanese gymnasts in the men’s high bar finals. (There were only six gymnasts per final.)

Another interesting tidbit: The IOC was already pushing to reduce team sizes to five members in 1973.

Below, you will find the letter that the FIG published in its Bulletin of Information in December 1973 (issue no. 4). 

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Apparatus Norms Evolution WAG

The Evolution of the Apparatus Dimensions in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics

Has the balance beam always been 10 cm wide? When did balance beams start having padding? When did the uneven bars start having tension cables? How far apart were the bars in 1989? Have the landing mats always been 20 cm thick?

The cheat sheet below gives you the basic contours of the ever-changing apparatus norms. 

The first dimensions for bars with tension cables at FIG events.
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Apparatus Norms Evolution MAG

The Evolution of the Apparatus Dimensions in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics

Has the floor exercise area always been 12 m x 12 m? Has the horizontal bar always been 2.80 m high? Have the landing mats always been 20 cm thick?

This cheat sheet gives you the basic contours of the ever-changing apparatus norms.

Dimensions for vaulting boards, 1989 Apparatus Norms
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Evolution MAG Olympics World Championships

1896-1950: The Events of Men’s Gymnastics

Male gymnasts have always competed on floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar, right? 

Wrong.

Male gymnasts had quite the journey to today’s competitive format. Here’s a look at events in which the men competed in the early years of the Olympic Games and World Championships.

The Official Report, 1912
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Evolution Olympics WAG World Championships

1928-1956: The Events of Women’s Gymnastics

Flying rings? Track and field events like javelin throwing? If you’ve been reading this site, you might be wondering about the evolution of the women’s program at FIG competitions.

So, here’s a quick rundown of the women’s programs at the major FIG competitions. Here we go…

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