Index

Here’s an index to help you find interesting articles and translations about gymnastics history. This page will be updated periodically.

Miscellaneous

• 1896-1950: The Events of Men’s Gymnastics
• 1928-1956: The Events of Women’s Gymnastics
• Evolution of the Apparatus Dimensions in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
• Evolution of the Apparatus Dimensions in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics
• 1958-1996: Compulsory Floor Music over the Decades
• The Perfect Scores before Nadia Comăneci and Nellie Kim 

Books

• Kato’s The Path of Beautiful Gymnastics
  • Kato Sawao Was a “Secret Gymnast” When He Started the Sport
• Čáslavská’s Road to Olympus
  • Her Early Years in Gymnastics
  • On the 1966 World Championships
  • On the 1967 European Championships
  • Čáslavská on Defending Her All-Around Title in The Road to Olympus
• Shakhlin’s My Gymnastics
  • His Early Years in Gymnastics
  • On the 1954 Worlds, 1955 European Cup, and 1956 Olympics
  • On His Career from the 1958 Worlds through the 1966 Worlds
• Voronin’s Number One
  • His Early Years in Gymnastics
  • On His All-Around Victory at the World Championships in Dortmund
  • On What Went Wrong at the 1968 Olympics

1889

• Czech Gymnasts at the Fête Fédérale Française de Gymnastique

1896

• Gymnastics at the Olympic Games
• The Minutes from the Second FIG Congress

1903

• Men’s Gymnastics at the First World Championships
• Women’s Gymnastics at the First World Championships

1905

• The World ChampionshipsThat Almost Didn’t Happen

1907

• The Rules for the World Championships in Prague
• Perfect Scores Abound at the World Championships in Prague
• Negative Coverage of the Sokol Rally in the German-Language Press
• Women’s Gymnastics at the Czech Sokol Rally
• The Sixth FIG Congress Considers Abandoning the World Championships

1909

• French Algerian Gymnasts Dominate the World Championships
• The Fight over Competition Formats at the FIG Congress

1911

• Competing in the Dark at the World Championships in Turin

1913

• The Last World Championships before World War I

1922

• The First World All-Around Champion in Men’s Gymnastics

1924

The First Perfect 10 in Gymnastics at the Olympic Games

1925

• Gymnastics at the First Workers’ Olympiad

1926

• The Men’s Competition at the World Championships in Lyon

1928

• The Rules for the First Women’s Gymnastics Competition at the Olympic Games
• Women Compete in Gymnastics at the Olympics for the First Time
• The Rules for the Men’s Gymnastics at the Olympic Games
• A Costly Math Error during the Men’s Competition at the Amsterdam Olympics
• The FIG’s Report on the Olympic Games in Amsterdam + Every Score from Every Judge
• The Fight over Pole Vault at the 15th FIG Congress + the Complete Minutes

1930

• The Death of Anton Malej at the World Championships in Luxembourg
• An Abrupt End to the World Championships in Luxembourg

1933

• The Election of Adam Zamoyski at the 20th FIG Congress

1934

• Women Compete at the World Championships for the First Time
• The Rules for the Men’s Competition at the World Championships
• Math Problems and Two Perfect 10s during the Men’s Competition at the World Championships

1938

• The First All-Around World Champion in Women’s Gymnastics
• The Official Rulebook for the Men’s Competition at the World Championships
• Another Perfect 10 and Shot Put Struggles during the Men’s Competition at the World Championships

1948

• The Political Defection of Marie Provazníková, President of the WTC
• The Women’s Rules and Apparatus Norms for the London Olympics
• The Women’s Gymnastics Competition at the London Olympics
• The Men’s Rules and Apparatus Norms for the London Olympics
• The Men’s Gymnastics Competition at the London Olympics
• The Emergence of the Soviet Union

1949

• The Very First Men’s Code of Points
• The History behind the First Men’s Code of Points

1950

• A Preview of the World Championships in Basel
• Hungary Attempts to Bar Yugoslavia from Competing at Worlds
• The 29th FIG Congress and the Attempt to Get Rid of Pommel Horse
• A Perfect 10 in the Men’s Competition at the World Championships
• The Women’s Rules for the World Championships
• Replacing the Women’s Vault Judges at the World Championships
• The Impetus for Competitive Women’s Gymnastics in Switzerland

1954

• The Men’s Code of Points

1957

• On the Origins of Event Finals

1958

• On the Origin of Teenage Gymnasts in the USSR
• The Very First Women’s Code of Points
• The Men’s Code of Points

1961

• Soviet Gymnasts Tour the United States
• U.S. Gymnasts Compete in the Soviet Union
• Šťastný and Růžičková Win the Czechoslovak Championships
• The Official Results for the University Games in Sofia

1962

• World Championships
  • The Compulsory Routines for the World Championships
  • The Women’s Competition at the World Championships
  • Berthe Villancher’s Summary of the World Championships
  • The Men’s Competition at the World Championships
  • Questioning the 10.0
  • Czechoslovakia’s Coverage of the 1962 World Championships. in Prague
• Other
  • The Formation of the United States Gymnastics 
  • A Profile of Hana Růžičková, the 1961 ČSSR Champion
  • Czechoslovak Floor Routines — The Story Behind the Routines
  • Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and the Soviet Union Compete before Worlds
  • Čáslavská Wins the Tournament of Seven Countries in Tbilisi
  • Čáslavská — “Ophelia, with the Heart of a Warrior”

1963

• The Men’s and Women’s Competitions at the University Games
• A Profile of Latynina: “Isn’t Everything We Do Personal Life?”
• A Profile of Luděk Martschini, Czechoslovak and Swiss Coach
• A Profile of Vladimír Prorok, Čáslavská’s Coach
• Japan vs. Czechoslovakia
• Why was the Czechoslovak men’s program struggling?
• The Czechoslovak Championships

1964

• The Olympics
  • Compulsories for the Tokyo Olympics
  • The Women’s Competition
  • The Men’s Competition
  • Questioning the 10.0 Again
• Other
  • The Men’s Code of Points
  • The Women’s Code of Points
  • China’s Withdrawal from the FIG
  • Petrik Defeats Latynina at the Soviet Championships
  • Anikó Ducza on Training for the Olympics after Giving Birth

1965

• Gymnastics at China’s Second National Games
• Japan’s Preparation for the University Games
• The Men’s Competition at the University Games
• The Women’s Competition at the University Games
• An Interview with Latynina before the European Games (on losing to Čáslavská and Petrik)
• An Interview with Larisa Petrik, AKA Larisa the Second

1966

• World Championships
  • The WAG Compulsory Routines
  • The MAG Compulsory Routines
  • Notes from the Men’s Technical Committee Meeting
  • Notes from the FIG Congress + a Failed Worlds Qualification System
  • The Men’s Competition in Dortmund
  • The Women’s Competition in Dortmund
  • Doris Brause Made “Swing the Thing”
  • Judging Fatigue at the World Championships
  • A Critique of Čáslavskás Podium Etiquette in Dortmund
  • Czechoslovak Coverage of the Golden World Championships in Dortmund
• Other
  • South Korea, North Korea, and an FIG Judges’ Course in Japan
  • Coaching Women’s Gymnastics in Czechoslovakia
  • Čáslavská Scores a 10.0 at the Czechoslovak Championships
  • A Profile of Bohumila Řimnáčová
  • A Profile of Jaroslava Matlochová, Czechoslovakia’s Head Coach

1967

• Čáslavská’s 10.0s at the Women’s European Championships
• Karin Janz’s International Debut at the European Championships
• Gymnastics at the Little Olympics in Mexico City
• Training in the Soviet Union
• Training in Japan
• Coach Matlochová Discusses Čáslavská’s Preparation for Mexico City
• The Czechoslovak Championships in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
• A Profile of Marianna Krajčírová after Her Bronze Finish at Euros
• Miroslav Cerar, the Last of the Greats
• Japan’s Selection for the University Games
• The Men’s Competition at the University Games
• The Women’s Competition at the University Games

1968

• Olympics
  • The Men’s Compulsory Routines for the Olympics
  • The Women’s Compulsory Routines for the Olympics
  • The Tlatelolco Massacre and the Prague Spring
  • MAG
    • Men’s Compuslories Competition
    • Men’s Optionals Competition
    • Men’s Event Finals
    • Willi Jaschek, the Gymnast Who Competed with a Torn Achilles
    • Sovetsky Sport’s Critical Coverage of the Soviet Men in Mexico
  • WAG
    • Women’s Compulsories Competition
    • Women’s Optionals Competition
    • Čáslavská’s Beam Score and the Problems with Judging
    • Women’s Event Finals
    • The Myth of Petrik’s Floor Scores in Mexico City
    • Valerie Nagy’s Reaction to the Mexico City Olympics
    • Sovetsky Sport’s Celebratory Coverage of the Soviet Women in Mexico
• Other
  • The Men’s Code of Points
  • The Women’s Code of Points
  • Berthe Villancher’s Commentary on the Women’s Code of Points
  • Zuchold’s and Janz’s 10.0s at the East German Championships
  • A Flurry of 10.0s in the Soviet Union
  • Why Is the Soviet Union’s National Team So Young?
  • Japan’s Olympic Trials

1969

• Compulsories Extended to Four Years
• The USGF World Cup
• Karin Janz Dominates at the Women’s European Championships
• Mikhail Voronin Retains His Title at the Men’s European Championships
• Olga Korbut’s Win at the Japan vs. USSR Dual Meet
• Problems with Men’s Vault
• East Germany vs. Japan’s Foreign Office
• Head Coaches Larisa Latynina and Vladimir Smolevsky on the USSR Championships
• Romania’s Re-Launch after Skipping the Mexico City Olympics

1970

• World Championships
  • Compulsory Routines for the World Championships in Ljubljana
  • The Men’s Competition at the World Championships
  • The Women’s Competition at the World Championships
  • Reflections on Romanian Gymnastics after Worlds in Ljubljana
  • The World Championships from a Hungarian’s Perspective
• Other
  • The Women’s Code of Points
  • Setting the Age Limit for WAG at 14
  • Japan’s Preparation for the University Games
  • The Men’s Competition at the University Games
  • The Women’s Competition at the University Games + an Interview with Tatiana Schegolkova
  • Kato Sawao Tears His Achilles Tendon
  • Canada’s World Invitational Gymnatstics Tournament
  • The Inaugural Chunichi Cup
  • A Book Review of Latynina’s Autobiography, Balance
  • A Profile of Mother Zdena Honsová and Daughter Hana Lišková
  • The Buzz around the Voronin Family
  • The Czechoslovak Championships
  • Albert Azaryan Training His Son Eduard
  • An Interview with the Czechoslovak WAG Coaches before the World Championships
  • A Conflicted Portrait of Karin Janz

1971

• The Supplement to the 1968 Men’s Code of Points
• The USSR vs. the USA
• Lazakovich and Nakayama Win the Inaugural Riga International
• Klimenko Ends Voronin’s Streak at the Men’s European Championships
• The “Japan vs. Europe” Competition
• Békési Wins Every Event at Hungarian Nationals
• An Interview with Lazakovich and Tourischeva before the European Championships
• Co-Champions at the Women’s European Championships
• The FIG President’s Thoughts on Men’s Optional Exercises

1972

• The Olympics
  • The Qualification Criteria for the Olympic Games
  • The Compulsory Routines for the Munich Olympics
  • A Preview of the Gymnastics Competition
  • Women’s Competition
    • The Compulsories (Ia)
      • Sovetsky Sport‘s Commentary on Compulsories
    • The Optionals (Ib)
      • Sovetsky Sport on the Women’s Team Gold
      • Reactions to Team USA’s Fourth-Place Finish
      • Czechoslovakia Restructures Its Training
    • The All-Around (II)
      • Sovetsky Sport on the Women’s All-Around Final
    • Event Finals (III)
      • Sovetsky Sport on the Women’s Event Finals
    • Villancher Steps down; Nagy Takes over the Women’s Technical Committee
    • The Women’s Technical Committee’s Report on the Munich Olympics
  • Men’s Competition
    • The Compulsories (Ia)
      • Sovetsky Sport‘s Commentary on Compulsories
    • The Optionals (Ib)
      • Sovetsky Sport on the Men’s Fourth-Straight Team Silver
    • The All-Around (II)
      • Sovetsky Sport on the Men’s All-Around Final
    • The Event Finals (III)
      • Sovetsky Sport on the Men’s Event Finals
    • Mikhail Voronin on His Final Olympics
  • Reflections and Takeaways
    • Japan
    • Romania
    • East Germany
• Other
  • The FIG President’s Response to Cathy Rigby’s Nude Photos in Sports Illustrated
  • International Competitions
    • The East German Women’s Team Defeats the Soviet Team before Munich
    • Korbut and Andrianov win the Riga International
    • Nakayama Scores a 10 at Penn State
    • Andrianov and Janz Win the Chunichi Cup
    • Comăneci Wins Bars and Beam at the Friendship Cup
  • The USSR
    • A Preview of the USSR Championships
    • Tourischeva Wins the USSR Championships
    • Andrianov Wins the USSR Championships
    • Profiles of Tourischeva and Andrianov after the USSR Championships
    • An Interview with Edvard Mikaelian, Armenian Gymnast and Fan of Jimi Hendrix
    •  Korbut and Andrianov Win the USSR Cup
    • Was Olga Korbut Supposed to Be on the Soviet Team in Munich?
    • A Profile of the Klimenko Brothers
    • A Profile of Tamara Lazakovich in Soviet Life
    • Bichukina First, Kim Second at the Soviet National Youth Championships
  • East Germany
    • Janz and Köste Win the East German Championships
    • The Artist on the Beam — A Profile of Erika Zuchold
  • Hungary
    • Békési and Molnár Win the Hungarian Masters Championships
    • Profiles of Ilona Békési, Krisztina Medveczky, and Monika Császár
    • A Profile of Teenage Zoltán Magyar
  • Czechoslovakia
    • Results from Czechoslovakia’s Nationals
  • Japan
    • Japan’s Olympic Trials Results and Goals for Munich
  • USA
    • Profiles of Cathy Rigby
    • Profiles of Joan Moore, Collector of Mice
  • China
    • China Travels to Romania for a Dual Meet
    • Yang Mingming and Jiang Shaoyi Win Chinese Nationals

1973

• A Profile of Karin Janz: “Discipline Named Karin”
• China Travels to the U.S. for a Tour
• Yu Liefeng, Xu Guoning, and Cheng Chunxia Win Chinese Nationals
• Comăneci Wins Everything at the Romanian International
• 1972/3: Comăneci Wins the All-Around in Dual Meets with the USSR
• Comăneci Wins the All-Around at the Friendship Cup
• 1972/3: Early Interviews with Nadia Comăneci
• An Early Interview with Béla Károlyi
• Schegolkova and Andrianov Win the Riga International
• Klimenko Wins the All-Around at the European Championships
• A Profile of Viktor Klimenko — “Catching up and Overtaking”
• The Quixotic Quest to Ban Korbut’s Skills
• The Men’s Competition at the University Games
• The Women’s Competition at the University Games
• Olga Korbut Mania
• Olga Korbut Mania in the Soviet Union
• A Profile of Zdena Dorňáková, the 14-Year-Old Czechoslovak Champion
• Tourischeva Sweeps the Women’s European Championships
• Two per Country
• Stodůlková’s Double Back on Floor

1974

• World Championships
  • The Attempt to Move the World Championships
  • The Women’s Team Competition at the World Championships
  • The Men’s Team Competition at the World Championships
  • The Women’s All-Around at the World Championships
  • The Men’s All-Around at the World Championships
  • The Women’s Event Finals at the World Championships
  • The Men’s Event Finals at the World Championships
  • The FIG’s Reflections on the World Championships in Varna
  • Božena Perdykulová and Her “Vault to Glory”
  • Sovetsky Sport‘s Recap of the World Championships
• Grozdova and Klimenko Win the Inaugural Moscow News Competition
• Gorbik and Marchenko Win the Riga International
• Interviews with Natalia Kuchinskaya and Klaus Köste in Riga
• The Men’s and Women’s Competitions at the Asian Games
• Gymnastics without Kuchinskaya but with Tourischeva and Korbut
• A Profile of Miloslav Netušil – “One of Many”
• Czechoslovakia’s Plans for Uneven Bars
• Comăneci and Ungureanu Win the Junior Masters Championships

1975

• The Men’s Code of Points
• The Women’s Code of Points
• Tsukahara Vault Wins Medals

1978

• The People’s Republic of China Rejoins the FIG

1984

• Floor Music of the Los Angeles Olympics

1988

• Floor Music of the Seoul Olympics

1992

• Floor Music of the Barcelona Olympics

1996

• Floor Music of the Atlanta Olympics

2000

• The Sydney Vault Debacle and the Apparatus Norms Hypothesis
• Floor Music of the Sydney Olympics

2004

• Floor Music of the Athens Olympics

2021

• Floor Music of the Tokyo Olympics

2023

• Floor Music of the Antwerp World Championships

2024

• Floor Music of the Paris Olympics