Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG). Each country has its own national governing body affiliated to FIG. Competitive Artistic gymnastics is the best known of the gymnastic sports. It typically involves the women's events of uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault. Men's events are floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. Gymnastics evolved from exercises used by the ancient Greeks, that included skills for mounting and dismounting a horse, and from circus performance skills.

Other gymnastic sports include rhythmic gymnastics, the various trampolining sports, aerobic and acrobatic gymnastics. Participants can include children as young as two years old doing kindergym and children's gymnastics, recreational gymnasts of ages 5 and up, competitive gymnasts at varying levels of skill, and world class athletes.

Etymology[link]

The word derives from the Greek γυμναστική (gymnastike), fem. of γυμναστικός (gymnastikos), "fond of athletic exercises",^[1] from γυμνάσια (gymnasia), "exercise"^[2] and that from γυμνός (gymnos), "naked",^[3] because athletes exercised and competed without clothing.

History[link]

1908 Summer Olympics in London: Display of the British women's gymnastics team

Exercises of the ancient Greeks began with athletic feats performed by each individual according to his own notion. The youth were encouraged to combine amusement with exercise. In time, this kind of exercise was incorporated into a system that figured prominently in the state regulations for education. In fact, the period for exercise or gymnastics was equal to the time spent on art and music combined.^[4] All Greek cities had a gymnasium, a courtyard for jumping, running, and wrestling. The term includes stretching exercises and warm-up preparing to athlets (from the Greek athlete ἆθλος âthlos, which means "struggle", "fight"). These tests were a summary of military exercises. As the Roman Empire ascended, the Greek gymnastics gave way to gymnastics whose purpose was military training. The Romans, for example, introduced the wooden horse.

In 393 AD the Emperor Theodosius abolished the Olympic Games, which by then had become corrupt and gymnastics, along with other sports, declined. For centuries, gymnastics was all but forgotten.^[5]

In the year 1569, Girolamo Mercuriale from Forlì (Italy) wrote Le Arte Gymnastica, that brought together his study of the attitudes of the ancients toward diet, exercise and hygiene, and the use of natural methods for the cure of disease. De Arte Gymnastica also explained the principles of physical therapy and is considered the first book on sports medicine.

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century Germany, three pioneer physical educators – Johann Friedrich GutsMuths (1759–1839) and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778–1852) – created exercises for boys and young men on apparatus they had designed that ultimately led to what is considered modern gymnastics. Don Francisco Amorós y Ondeano, marquis de Sotelo, was born on February 19, 1770 in Valence and died on August 8, 1848 in Paris. He was a Spanish colonel, and the first person to introduce educative gymnastic in France. In particular, Jahn crafted early models of the horizontal bar, the parallel bars (from a horizontal ladder with the rungs removed), and the vaulting horse.^[5]

The Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) was founded in Liege in 1881.^[6] By the end of the nineteenth century, men's gymnastics competition was popular enough to be included in the first "modern" Olympic Games in 1896. From then on until the early 1950s, both national and international competitions involved a changing variety of exercises gathered under the rubric, gymnastics, that would seem strange to today's audiences and that included for example, synchronized team floor calisthenics, rope climbing, high jumping, running, horizontal ladder. During the 1920s, women organized and participated in gymnastics events. The first women's Olympic competition was primitive, for it involved only synchronized calisthenics, was held at the 1928 Games, in Amsterdam.

By 1954, Olympic Games apparatus and events for both men and women had been standardized in modern format, and uniform grading structures (including a point system from 1 to 15) had been agreed upon. At this time, Soviet gymnasts astounded the world with highly disciplined and difficult performances, setting a precedent that continues. The new medium of television helped publicize and initiate a modern age of gymnastics. Both men's and women's gymnastics now attract considerable international interest, and excellent gymnasts can be found on every continent. Nadia Comăneci received the first perfect score, at the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Canada. She was coached in Romania by the Romanian coach, (Hungarian ethnicity), Béla Károlyi. Comaneci scored four of her perfect tens on the uneven bars, two on the balance beam and one in the floor exercise.^[7] Even with Nadia's perfect scores, the Romanians lost the gold medal to the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, Comaneci became an Olympic icon.

In 2006, a new points system for Artistic gymnastics was put into play. With an A Score (or D score) being the difficulty score, which as of 2009 is based on the top 8 high scoring elements in a routine (excluding Vault). The B Score (or E Score), is the score for execution, and is given for how well the skills are performed.^[8]

Forms[link]

Artistic gymnastics[link]

Artistic gymnastics is usually divided into Men's and Women's Gymnastics. Typically men compete on six events: Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, and High Bar, while women compete on four: Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise. In some countries, women at one time competed on the rings, high bar, and parallel bars (for example, in the 1950s in the USSR). Though routines performed on each event may be short, they are physically exhausting and push the gymnast's strength, flexibility, endurance and awareness to the limit.

In 2006, FIG introduced a new points system for Artistic gymnastics in which scores are no longer limited to 10 points. The system is used in the US for elite level competition.^[8] Unlike the old code of points, there are two separate scores. An execution score and a difficulty score. In the previous system, the "execution score" was the only score. It was and still is out of 10.00. During the gymnast's performance, the judges deduct from this score only. A fall, on or off the event, is a 1.00 deduction, in elite level gymnastics. The introduction of the difficulty score is a significant change. The gymnast's difficulty score is based on what elements they perform and is subject to change if they do not perform or complete all the skills, or they do not connect a skill meant to be connected to another. Connection bonuses are the most common deduction from a difficulty score, as it can be difficult to connect multiple flight elements. It is very hard to connect skills if the first skill is not performed correctly. The new code of points allows the gymnasts to gain higher scores based on the difficulty of the skills they perform as well as their execution.

Events for women[link]

Vault

In the vaulting events gymnasts sprint down a 25 metres (82 ft) runway, jump onto or perform a roundoff entry onto a springboard (run/ take-off segment), land momentarily, inverted on the hands on the vaulting horse or vaulting table (pre flight segment), then spring off of this platform to a two footed landing (post flight segment). Every gymnast starts at a different point on the vault runway depending on their height and strength. The post flight segment may include one or more multiple saltos or somersaults, and/or twisting movements. Round-off entry vaults are the most common vaults in elite level gymnastics. In vaults with roundoff entries, gymnasts "round-off" so hands are on the runway while the feet land on the springboard (beatboard). From the roundoff position the gymnast travels backwards as in a backhandspring so that the hands land on the vaulting platform (horse). She then blocks off the vaulting platform into various twisting and/or somersaulting combinations. The post flight segment brings the gymnast to her feet.

In 2001, the traditional vaulting horse was replaced with a new apparatus, sometimes known as a tongue or table. The new apparatus is more stable, wider, and longer than the older vaulting horse—approximately 1m in length and 1m in width—giving gymnasts a larger blocking surface, and is therefore considered safer than the old vaulting horse. With the addition of this new, safer vaulting table, gymnasts are attempting more difficult and dangerous vaults.^[9]

Uneven Bars

On the uneven bars (also known as asymmetric bars, UK), the gymnast performs a routine on two horizontal bars set at different heights. These bars are made of fiberglass covered in wood laminate, to prevent them from breaking. In the past, bars were made of wood, but the bars were prone to breaking, providing an incentive to switch to newer technologies. The width of the bars may be adjusted. Gymnasts perform swinging, circling, transitional, and release moves, that may pass over, under, and between the two bars. Movements may pass through the handstand. Gymnasts often mount the Uneven Bars using a springboard.

Daniele Hypólito at the 2007 Pan Am Games on Beam.

Balance Beam

The gymnast performs a choreographed routine up to 90 seconds in length consisting of leaps, acrobatic skills, somersaults, turns and dance elements on a padded beam. The beam is 125 centimetres (4 ft 1 in) from the ground, 500 centimetres (16 ft 5 in) long, and 10 centimetres (3.9 in) wide.^[10] The event requires, in particular, balance, flexibility, poise and strength.

Gymnast doing a stag leap on floor exercise.

Floor

In the past, the Floor Exercise event was executed on the bare floor or mats such as wrestling mats. Today, the floor event occurs on a carpeted 12m × 12m square, usually consisting of hard foam over a layer of plywood, which is supported by springs or foam blocks generally called a "spring" floor. This provides a firm surface that provides extra bounce or spring when compressed, allowing gymnasts to achieve extra height and a softer landing than would be possible on a standard floor. Gymnasts perform a choreographed routine up to 90 seconds in the Floor Exercise event. They must choose an accompanying music piece. In some gymnastic associations such as United States Association of Gymnastic Clubs (USAIGC), gymnasts are allowed to have vocals in their music^[11] but USA Gymnastics competitions a large deduction is taken from the score for having vocals in the music.,^[12] The routine should consist of tumbling lines, series of jumps, dance elements, acrobatic skills, and turns, or piviots, on one foot. A gymnast can perform up to four tumbling lines that usually includes at least one flight element without hand support. Each level of gymnastics requires the athlete to perform a different number of tumbling passes, in level 7 in the unired states you are required to do 2–3 and in levels 8–10 at least 3–4 tumbling passes are required.^[13]

Scoring: A gymnast's score comes from deductions taken from their start value. The start value of a routine is calculated based on the difficulty of the elements the gymnast attempts and whether or not the gymnast meets composition requirements. The composition requirements are different for each apparatus. This score is called the D score.^[14] Deductions in execution and artistry are taken from 10.0. This score is called the E score.^[15] The final score is calculated by taking deductions from the E score, and adding the result to the D score.^[16] And since 2007, the scoring system has changed by adding bonus plus the execution and then adding those two together to get the final score.

Events for men[link]

Floor

Male gymnasts also perform on a 12m. by 12m. spring floor. A series of tumbling passes are performed to demonstrate flexibility, strength, and balance. The gymnast must also show strength skills, including circles, scales, and press handstands. Men's floor routines usually have four passes that will total between 60–70 seconds and are performed without music, unlike the women's event. Rules require that male gymnasts touch each corner of the floor at least once during their routine.

A boy on the pommel horse

Pommel Horse

A typical pommel horse exercise involves both single leg and double leg work. Single leg skills are generally found in the form of scissors, an element often done on the pommels. Double leg work however, is the main staple of this event. The gymnast swings both legs in a circular motion (clockwise or counterclockwise depending on preference) and performs such skills on all parts of the apparatus. To make the exercise more challenging, gymnasts will often include variations on a typical circling skill by turning (moores and spindles) or by straddling their legs (Flares). Routines end when the gymnast performs a dismount, either by swinging his body over the horse, or landing after a handstand.

Still Rings

The rings are suspended on wire cable from a point 5.75 meters from the floor, and adjusted in height so the gymnast has room to hang freely and swing. He must perform a routine demonstrating balance, strength, power, and dynamic motion while preventing the rings themselves from swinging. At least one static strength move is required, but some gymnasts may include two or three. A routine should have a dismount equal in difficulty to the difficulty of the routine as a whole.

Vault

Gymnasts sprint down a runway, which is a maximum of 25 meters in length, before hurdling onto a spring board. The body position is maintained while "punching" (blocking using only a shoulder movement) the vaulting platform. The gymnast then rotates to a standing position. In advanced gymnastics, multiple twists and somersaults may be added before landing. Successful vaults depend on the speed of the run, the length of the hurdle, the power the gymnast generates from the legs and shoulder girdle, the kinesthetic awareness in the air, and the speed of rotation in the case of more difficult and complex vaults.

Parallel Bars

Men perform on two bars slightly further than a shoulder's width apart and usually 1.75m high while executing a series of swings, balances, and releases that require great strength and coordination.

High Bar

A 2.8 cm thick steel or fiberglass bar raised 2.5m above the landing area is all the gymnast has to hold onto as he performs giants (revolutions around the bar), release skills, twists, and changes of direction. By using all of the momentum from giants and then releasing at the proper point, enough height can be achieved for spectacular dismounts, such as a triple-back salto. Leather grips are usually used to help maintain a grip on the bar.

As with the women, male gymnasts are also judged on all of their events, for their execution, degree of difficulty, and overall presentation skills.

Rhythmic gymnastics[link]

Irina Tchachina, Russian rhythmic gymnast

Only women compete in rhythmic gymnastics although there is a new version of this discipline for men being pioneered in Japan, see Men's rhythmic gymnastics. This is a sport that combines elements of ballet, gymnastics, dance, and apparatus manipulation. The sport involves the performance of five separate routines with the use of five apparatus—ball, ribbon, hoop, clubs, rope—on a floor area, with a much greater emphasis on the aesthetic rather than the acrobatic. There are also group routines consisting of 5 gymnasts and 5 apparatuses of their choice. Rhythmic routines are scored out of a possible 30 points; the score for artistry (choreography and music) is averaged with the score for difficulty of the moves and then added to the score for execution.^[17]

International competitions are split between Juniors, under sixteen by their year of birth; and Seniors, for women sixteen and over again by their year of birth. Gymnasts in Russia and Europe typically start training at a very young age and those at their peak are typically in their late teens (15–19) or early twenties. The largest events in the sport are the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Grand-Prix Tournaments.

Trampolining and tumbling[link]

Double mini-trampoline competitor

Trampolining and tumbling consists of four events, individual, synchronized and double mini trampolining and tumbling (also known as power tumbling). Since 2000, individual trampoline has been included in the Olympic Games. Individual routines in trampolining involve a build-up phase during which the gymnast jumps repeatedly to achieve height, followed by a sequence of ten leaps without pauses during which the gymnast performs a sequence of aerial skills. Routines are marked out of a maximum score of 10 points. Additional points (with no maximum at the highest levels of competition) can be earned depending on the difficulty of the moves and the length of time taken to complete the ten skills which is an indication of the average height of the jumps. In high level competitions, there are two preliminary routines, one which has only two moves scored for difficulty and one where the athlete is free to perform any routine. This is followed by a final routine which is optional. Some competitions restart the score from zero for the finals, other add the final score to the preliminary results. Synchronized trampoline is similar except that both competitors must perform the routine together and marks are awarded for synchronicity as well as the form and difficulty of the moves. Double mini trampoline involves a smaller trampoline with a run-up, two moves are performed for preliminaries and two more for finals. Moves cannot be repeated and the scores are marked in a similar manner to individual trampoline. In tumbling, athletes perform an explosive series of flips and twists down a sprung tumbling track. Scoring is similar to trampolining.

Acrobatic gymnastics[link]

Acrobatic gymnastics (formerly Sports Acrobatics), often referred to as acro if involved with the sport, acrobatic sports or simply sports acro, is a group gymnastic discipline for both men and women. Acrobats in groups of two, three and four perform routines with the heads, hands and feet of their partners. They may, subject to regulations (e.g. no lyrics), pick their own music.

Throughout the world, there at three FIG levels: Age group (Age 11-16), Junior(12-19) and Senior (15+), which are used in the World Championships and many other events around the world, including European Championships and World Games. All levels require a balance and dynamic routine, Junior and Seniors are also required to perform a final (combined) routine.

Currently acrobatic gymnastics is marked out of 30.00 (can be higher at Senior FIG level based on difficulty):

10.00 for routine difficulty, (valued from the tables of difficulties)

10.00 For technical performance, (how well the skills are executed)

10.00 For Artistry, (the overall performance of the routine, namely choreography)

TeamGym[link]

Team Gym or Gymnastics for All has it origins in earliest times.These days, although teams can compete the sport itself was developed to enhance fitness and health in the participants and is accessible to anyone of any age. In 1984 Gymnastics for All was officially recognized first as a Sport Program by the FIG (International Gymnastic Federation), and subsequently by national gymnastic federations world wide with participants that now number 30 million.^[18]

Floor Programme

All members of the Team take part in the floor program, composed of a mixture of dance, flexibility and skill. The routine has to be skillfully choreographed and the judges look out for changes in shape. There needs to be at least two spins, two balances and two section elements. These section elememts are bodywaves for women's teams, power elements for men's teams and lifts for mixed teams. Floor routines are performed to music.

Trampette

Here a trampette is used. There are two components of this; Vault and the Trampette on its own. There has to be three runs in total. At least one of these runs has to be a vault run. Another run has to include all the gymnasts doing the same move. This is generally the first run. This is also performed to music.

Tumbling

Again, here there are three runs (rounds) involved. One of which has to include all six gymnasts doing a forwards series. Another run also has to include the gymnasts completing the same move. Each series must have at least three different acrobatic elements.^[19]

Display gymnastics[link]

General gymnastics enables people of all ages and abilities to participate in performance groups of 6 to more than 150 athletes. They perform synchronized, choreographed routines. Troupes may be all one gender or mixed. There are no age divisions in general gymnastics. The largest general gymnastics exhibition is the quadrennial World Gymnaestrada which was first held in 1939.

Aerobic gymnastics[link]

Aerobic gymnastics (formally Sport Aerobics) involves the performance of routines by individuals, pairs, trios or groups up to 6 people, emphasizing strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness rather than acrobatic or balance skills. Routines are performed for all individuals on a 7x7m floor and also for 12–14 and 15–17 trios and mixed pairs. From 2009, all senior trios and mixed pairs were required to be on the larger floor (10x10m), all groups also perform on this floor. Routines generally last 60–90 seconds depending on age of participant and routine category.

Former apparatus and events[link]

Rope (rhythmic gymnastics)[link]

Starting in 2011, the rhythmic apparatus rope will be removed from all FIG events and clubs will be returned to the competition. FIG has a policy of only using four of the five pieces of apparatus and changes them for different Olympic cycles. This will affect World Cups, World Championships, and Olympics.

Rope climb[link]

Generally, competitors climbed either a 6m (6.1m = 20 ft in USA) or an 8m (7.6m = 25 ft in USA), 38mm (1.5") diameter natural fiber rope for speed, starting from a seated position on the floor and using only the hands and arms. Kicking the legs in a kind of "stride" was normally permitted. Many gymnasts can do this in the straddle or pike position, which eliminates the help generated from the legs.

Flying rings[link]

Flying rings was an event similar to still rings, but with the performer executing a series of stunts while swinging. It was a gymnastic event sanctioned by both the NCAA and the AAU until the early 1960s.

Popular culture[link]

Film[link]

See also[link]

Acrobatics Acro dance Gymnasium (ancient Greece) List of gymnasts List of gymnastics terms International Gymnastics Hall of Fame World Gymnastics Championships Gymnastics portal NCAA Men's Gymnastics championship (US) NCAA Women's Gymnastics championship (US) Turners Majorettes Cheerleading Wheel gymnastics

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gymnastics

External links[link]

Look up gymnastics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) official website
• USA Gymnastics, the governing body for gymnastics in the USA

• Texts on Wikisource:
  • "Gymnastics". New International Encyclopedia. 1905. 
  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Gymnastics and Gymnasium". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
  • "Gymnastics". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921. 

Johanna Quaas (née Johanna Geißler; born November 20, 1925 in Hohenmölsen)^[1] is a German gymnast.

Career[link]

She started gymnastics at an early age and appeared in her first competition in 1934.^[2] After completion of school she worked in the obligatory social year (Pflichtjahr). In 1945 she finished her job training as gymnastics coach in Stuttgart.^[2] Afterwards she moved to Weißenfels, where she started to train handball as gymnastics was banned by the Allied Control Council. In 1947 this ban was removed and she started again with gymnastics. In 1950 she started to study at University of Halle-Wittenberg. Afterwards she trained coaches at the Institut für Körpererziehung.^[3] She co-authored the gymnastics text book „Gerätturnen“.^[2]

During this time she trained at the HSG Wissenschaft Halle. In 1961, she also coached gymnasts at SC Chemie Halle, including Barbara Dix-Stolz and Christel Felgner-Wunder, who were later nominated to start at the 1964 Summer Olympics. At age 57, Quaas again started with training in 1982 and won at the VII. Turn- und Sportfest der DDR in Leipzig.^[2] After the German reunification she also started at all Deutsche Turnfeste since 1990.^[2]

Quaas rose to prominence in 2012 when several YouTube clips showed her training at age 86 during the Turnier der Meister in Cottbus. The clips became instant viral hits and generated 2,9 and 3 million views.^{[4] [5]}

German and international newspapers and TV stations reported on the 86-year-old gymnast. Quaas was invited to German TV show Gottschalk Live and her story was covered in at least 188 Chinese newspapers.^[6]

On September 13, 2012 it was announced that Quaas will receive an entry in The Guinness Book of Records as oldest gymnast in the world.^[1]

Personal life[link]

In 1963 she married the gymnast coach Gerhard Quaas, with whom she has three daughters.^[7]

References[link]

de:Johanna Quaas

Olga Korbut
Country represented	Soviet Union
Born	(1955-05-16) May 16, 1955 (age 57) Hrodna, then in Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Discipline	Women's artistic gymnastics
Eponymous skills	Korbut Flip
Medal record Olympic Games Gold 1972 Munich Team competition Gold 1972 Munich Balance Beam Gold 1972 Munich Floor Gold 1976 Montreal Team competition Silver 1972 Munich Uneven Bars Silver 1976 Montreal Balance Beam World Artistic Gymnastics Championships Gold 1974 Varna Team competition Gold 1974 Varna Vault Silver 1974 Varna All-Around Silver 1974 Varna Floor Silver 1974 Varna Balance Beam Silver 1974 Varna Uneven Bars

Olga Valentinovna Korbut (Belarusian: Вольга Валянцінаўна Корбут, Volha Valancinaŭna Korbut; Russian: Ольга Валентиновна Корбут) (b. May 16, 1955 in Hrodna), also known as the "Sparrow from Minsk", is a Belarusian, Soviet-born gymnast who won four gold medals and two silver medals at the Summer Olympics, in which she competed in 1972 and 1976 for the USSR team.

Early life[link]

Korbut, who started training at age 8, entered a Belarusian sports school headed by coach Renald Knysh at age 11. There, Korbut's first trainer was Elena Volchetskaya (an Olympian), but she was moved to Knysh's group a year later. With him, she learned a difficult backward somersault on the balance beam.She debuted this at a competition in the USSR in 1969. Also, in 1969, Olga completed a backflip-to-catch on the uneven bars. This was the first backward release move ever performed by a woman on bars.

She ended fifth at her first competition in the 1969 USSR championships. The next year, she won a gold medal in the vault. Due to illness and injury, she was unable to compete in many of the tournaments prior to the 1972 Olympics.

Olympics[link]

Olga Korbut during 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich on 1996 Azerbaijani stamp.

At the 1972 Olympics, her acrobatics and open display of emotion—notably, she wiped tears from her face after a disastrous uneven bars routine—in contrast to the stereotypically cold eastern bloc athlete, captivated the Munich audiences. There she became one of the first persons ever to do a backward somersault on the balance beam in competition. She was also the first to do a standing backward somersault on bars, and a back somersault to swingdown (Korbut Flip) on beam. Her bars move is no longer seen in high level gymnastics, but the tuck back and Korbut Flip are still very popular (2003 world beam champion Fan Ye performed both in her routine). This excellence in technical skills overthrew the sport's traditional emphasis on artistry.

During the Olympics, Korbut was one of the favourites for the all-around after her dynamic performance in the team competition; however, she missed her mount on bars three times and the title went to her teammate Ludmilla Tourischeva. Notwithstanding, Korbut won three gold medals for the balance beam, floor exercise and team. In one of the most controversial finishes of all time, she took a silver medal in the uneven bars. Korbut's first attempt at her uneven bars routine was marred by several mistakes which all but ended her chances of winning a gold medal in the all around. The next day, Korbut repeated the same routine in the event finals, although this time successfully. After the boards displayed a score of 9.8, the audience began to whistle, jeer, stamp their feet, and shout vulgar remarks at the judges in disapproval, believing her score to be too low. This carried on for several minutes, however, the judges refused to change her score. A similar display of audience disapproval occurred thirty-two years later at the 2004 Athens Olympics, this time involving Russian gymnast Alexei Nemov's score; however, after 15 minutes of audience protest his score was slightly adjusted.

Korbut is most famous for her uneven bars and balance beam routines. Her Olympic achievement earned her ABC's Wide World of Sports title: Athlete of the Year. In 1973, she won the Russian and World Student (i.e., University) Games, and a silver medal in the all-around at the European Championships.

The Soviet coaches and officials had designated Olga as the woman who could beat the Romanian prodigy, Nadia Comăneci, in the 1976 Summer Olympics at Montreal, but Olga was injured and her performances in the games were under-par. She was overshadowed not only by Comaneci, but also by her own teammate Nellie Kim. She did collect a team gold medal, and an individual silver medal for the balance beam.

Retirement and life after the Olympics[link]

She graduated from the Grodno Pedagogical Institute in 1977, and retired from gymnastic competition thereafter. She married Leonid Bortkevich, who was a member of a popular Belarusian folk band, Pesniary. The couple had a son, Richard, in 1979. In 1991, she emigrated to the United States. Korbut and Bortkevich divorced in 2000. Korbut now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Legacy[link]

Korbut is a highly decorated athlete with four Olympic gold medals to her credit, but it is not this feat for which she is most remembered. The media whirl which surrounded her 1972 Olympic debut caused a surge of young girls to join their local gymnastic clubs, and a sport which had seldom been noticed previously now made headlines. In addition to greatly publicizing gymnastics worldwide, she also contributed to a marked change in the tenor of the sport itself. Prior to 1972, the athletes were generally older and the focus was on elegance rather than acrobatics. In the decade after Korbut's Olympic debut, the emphasis was reversed.

In 1988 Korbut was the first gymnast to be inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.^[1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Olga Korbut at Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique
• Where Are They Now?: Olga Korbut Info & Photos

Gymnastics portal

Shawn Johnson
Johnson at "Frosted Pink With a Twist" (breast cancer benefit) held in San Diego, California on September 14, 2008
Personal information
Full name	Shawn Machel Johnson
Nickname(s)	Peanut, Bubbly (ShawnJohnson on Twitter)[1][2]
Country represented	United States
Born	(1992-01-19) January 19, 1992 (age 20)[3] Des Moines, Iowa
Hometown	West Des Moines, Iowa
Height	4 feet 9 inches (1.45 m)[4]
Discipline	Women's artistic gymnastics
Level	Senior International Elite
Years on national team	2004–2008, 2011
Club	Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute
Head coach(es)	Liang Chow
Assistant coach(es)	Liwen Zhuang
Music	August's Rhapsody from August Rush
Medal record Women's gymnastics Competitor for the  United States Summer Olympics Gold 2008 Beijing Balance beam Silver 2008 Beijing Team Silver 2008 Beijing All-around Silver 2008 Beijing Floor World Championships Gold 2007 Stuttgart Team Gold 2007 Stuttgart All-around Gold 2007 Stuttgart Floor Pan American Games Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro All-around Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro Uneven bars Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro Balance beam Gold 2011 Guadalajara Team Silver 2007 Rio de Janeiro Floor Silver 2011 Guadalajara Uneven Bars

Shawn Machel Johnson (born January 19, 1992) is an American artistic gymnast. She was the 2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist and all-around, and floor exercise silver medalist, the 2007 all-around World Champion, and the 2007 and 2008 U.S. all-around champion. In 2009, Johnson became the winner of the season eight edition of Dancing with the Stars.

Personal life[link]

Johnson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, the only child of Doug and Teri Johnson. Her parents enrolled her in a gymnastics class at age three after they noticed her climbing cabinets and jumping off tables. At age six, Johnson was one of Liang Chow's first students when he opened a gymnastics school in West Des Moines.^[5]

Johnson attended a public school, Valley High School.^[6] She was on the honor roll, attended football games, and participated in extra-curriculars.^[7] Through 2008, Johnson maintained a more balanced lifestyle than typical of elite female gymnasts.^[8] She limited her gymnastics training to 25 hours per week, as opposed to the more typical 40 hours.^[9]

Johnson left public school in the spring of 2009. She and her mother relocated to Los Angeles, California and she appeared on Dancing With the Stars. As of 2010, she finished high school with a private tutor.^[10][11]

Gymnastics career[link]

Junior career[link]

Pre-elite[link]

In 2004, Johnson competed in the Junior Olympics (U.S. Level 10) National Championships, finishing fourth in the all-around, first on beam, and second on floor.^[12]

As a youngster, Johnson was not scouted by USAG and her coach, Chow, had no interactions with the national staff. In 2005, Chow reached out to the National Team Coordinator, Marta Karolyi, sending her a video of Johnson, with the comment "I believe this kid will help the US team."^[13] Karolyi felt the action was audacious, "Wow, this coach is pretty confident",^[9] but she soon invited Johnson to national team training camps.

Junior elite[link]

Johnson qualified Junior International Elite on her first attempt^{[citation needed]}. She attracted widespread attention at the 2005 U.S. Classic, where she placed third. At the 2005 U.S. National Championships, Johnson fell from the beam on the first day of competition and finished tenth all-around.

In 2006, Johnson added several new tricks, including a Jaeger on bars, and two top-difficulty (G) skills, a full-in back-out dismount off beam and a double-twisting double back on floor. She won the 2006 U.S. Junior National All-Around Championship with a score higher than any of her senior elite competitors.^[14]

Senior career[link]

2007 pre-Worlds[link]

Johnson became a senior in 2007 and continued to show new skills, including a double-twisting double layout dismount off the uneven bars. She competed at the 2007 Tyson American Cup, winning the all-around over teammate Natasha Kelley. Johnson also competed in the 2007 Pan American Games, winning four gold medals (team, all-around, beam and bars) and a silver on floor.

Johnson won the all-around at the 2007 Visa U.S. National Championships, beating Shayla Worley by more than three points. Johnson also finished more than five points ahead of two-time National Champion Nastia Liukin, in the first of a series of face-offs over the next two years.^{[citation needed]}

2007 Panamerican Games[link]

Johnson took part in 2007 Panamerican Games. She won the team title, the all around title, the balance beam title and the uneven bars title. She was the silver medalist on floor.^[15]

2007 World Championships[link]

Johnson represented the U.S. at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships along with Nastia Liukin, Shayla Worley, Alicia Sacramone, Ivana Hong and Samantha Peszek.

In prelims (qualification), Johnson scored 16.250 on beam, 15.150 on floor, 15.175 on vault, and (with a fall on her dismount) 14.625 on bars. The U.S. finished first in prelims and Johnson qualified to the all-around, beam and floor finals.

Johnson performed all four events in the team finals; the only U.S. athlete to do this. Johnson scored 15.375 on bars and floor, and 15.150 on vault. She fell on the beam on her handspring-handspring-layout series and scored 15.025. The team won gold with 184.400 points, 0.950 ahead of silver-medal China. It was the second U.S. team gold in the World Championships.^[16][17]

In the all-around finals, Johnson scored a 15.175 on vault, 15.375 on bars, 15.900 on beam and 15.425 on floor. Her 61.875 total made her the fourth American woman to win the all-around gold medal.^[18]

During event finals, Johnson first competed on the balance beam, where she fell on her standing full and on her switch side leap, scoring a 14.475 and finishing last. In floor exercise, she went out-of-bounds on her first tumbling pass, but won the gold with a 15.250, just eclipsing teammate Sacramone.^[19]

2008 pre-Olympics[link]

Johnson competed again in the American Cup on March 1, 2008 in Madison Square Garden. On vault, she fell on her Amanar vault, scoring a 15.175. She stated^{[citation needed]} that her attempt to "stick" the vault caused the fall. On the other apparatus, she scored 15.625 on bars, 16.325 on beam, and 15.975 on floor. Although Johnson scored first on the vault, balance beam, and floor, she finished second in the all-around. Nastia Liukin, with an uneven bars score nearly a point higher than Johnson's^{[citation needed]} won gold.^{[citation needed]}

One week later, Johnson represented the U.S. in Jesolo, Italy against Italy, Spain, and Poland, along with Jana Bieger, Olivia Courtney, Chelsea Davis, Bridget Sloan, and Samantha Peszek. The U.S. won the junior and senior all-around team titles. Johnson won the all-around with a 61.7, earning the highest scores on vault (15.2), beam (16.2), and floor (15.0^[20]).^{[citation needed]}

On June 7, 2008, Johnson won the 2008 U.S. National Championships. Johnson scored 127.5, winning the all-around title by one point ahead of Liukin. Johnson also won the floor exercise.^{[citation needed]}

Two weeks later, Johnson won the all-around at the Olympic Trials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, again finishing ahead of Liukin. Because of their top placements, Johnson and Liukin were named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team immediately after the Trials. The other four 2008 team members earned their spots after two additional selection camps.^[21]

2008 Summer Olympics[link]

Johnson performs on the floor at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

At the 2008 Summer Olympics Johnson competed in all four events during the team competition,^[22] in which the United States won the silver medal.^[23] Johnson also won the silver medal in the individual all-around competition, receiving a score of 62.725.^[24] Johnson's teammate and roommate at the Olympic Village,^[25] Nastia Liukin, won the gold medal, receiving a score of 63.325.^[26] With Liukin taking gold and Johnson silver, this competition was the first time that the United States Women's Gymnastics team took both the gold and silver medals in the individual all-around competition; this competition also marks the fourth time a country won both gold and silver medals in the individual all-around competition.^[27]

She won the silver medal in floor exercise, with teammate Liukin taking bronze. She won a gold medal on the balance beam apparatus.^[28] Like the individual all-around, she and Liukin took the top two medals in this event.,^[29][30]

Comeback[link]

Shawn Johnson in San Diego just after her Olympic victory

In January 2010, Johnson tore her ACL while skiing. She had reconstructive knee surgery the following month.

In May 2010, Johnson announced her return to gymnastics training with a goal of making 2012 U.S. Olympic team.^[31]

In August 2010, Johnson communicated that her knee recovered to allow full training and that she had learned a new difficult skill.^[32]

In September 2010, Johnson released videos showing the following skills (training status):^[33] Johnson is planning on starting her comeback at the 2011 Covergirl Classics, and the 2011 Visa Championships, hopeful to make the 2011 World Championships Team.

Vault

• Yurchenko 2.5 "Amanar" (into pit)
• Yurchenko 2.0 (into pit)

Uneven bars

• double twisting double layout dismount (into pit)
• toe-on full pirouette, connected to Geinger salto

Beam

• back handspring, back handspring, full twisting layout (floor line)
• standing full twisting back salto (floor line)
• back handspring, back handspring, layout (low beam)
• switch leap, layout step-out, back pike
• front tuck

Floor exercise

• full twisting double layout (spotted onto pit mat, also unassisted on tumbletrack)
• double layout (unassisted onto pit mat and on tumbletrack)
• whip, double twisting back layout (tumbletrack)
• double pike
• double layout (unassisted on the spring floor)

In November 2010, Johnson performed her first post-Olympics National Team Training Camp. Although she expected to return to the "ranch" later in her comeback, Martha Karolyi requested she appear, based on her demonstrated progress in video. Johnson mentioned that her reconstructed knee still hindered high training volume.^[34]

In February 2011, Johnson became an official member of the USA Senior National team once again, this allows her to compete in international competitions. She has stated that she wishes to return to competition later in 2011.^[35]

In September 2011, Johnson was named as a non-traveling alternate to the 2011 USA Women's World Championships Team.^[36]

In October 2011, Johnson was named to the 2011 Pan American Games Team. She won a gold medal in the team competition and also won a silver medal for her uneven bars performance.^[37]

Honors[link]

Johnson was one of two female athletes to appear on AOL's 100 most searched females on the Internet for 2009, ranked 27th.^[38][39]

A scientific poll commissioned by Forbes magazine concluded Johnson was "America's Most-Liked Sports Figure" in 2009.^[40]

Johnson was also on the top of most appealing athletes on E-score Celebrity metric in 2010,^[41] and she was ranked seventh of America's Favorite Female Sports Stars on Harris Interactive in 2010.^[42]

ESPN announced Johnson's nominations for the 2009 "Best Female U.S. Olympian" Johnson won an ESPY for "Best Female U.S. Olympian" and "Athlete – Female" Teen Choice Award, the latter for the second consecutive year.^[43][44]

On 15 April 2009, Johnson was awarded the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award.^[45] The annual award honors the USA athlete who best represents "the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism."^[46]

Johnson ranked fifth in the Associated Press' 2008 Female Athlete of the Year voting.^[47]

Johnson was the winner of the 2008 Teen Choice Award for best female athlete, although she was not able to accept the honor in person because of Olympic training commitments.^[48] She was the first gymnast to be nominated for the award.^[49]

A life-sized bronze sculpture of Johnson honors the gymnast at the Iowa Hall of Pride in Des Moines.^[50]

On 7 September 2007, Johnson received the "Longines Prize for Elegance" in Stuttgart, Germany along with Japan's Hiroyuki Tomita. The prize is given in recognition of athletes who demonstrate remarkable elegance in the course of an international competition at world level; the decision was unanimous. In addition to the trophy, designed by the Swiss artist Piero Travaglini, recipients also receive a wristwatch from the Longines Evidenza collection and a check for $5,000.^[51]

Following Johnson's World Championship performances in 2007, Governor Chet Culver of Iowa proclaimed October 17 "Shawn Johnson Day" in the state.^[52][53]

In Popular culture[link]

[edit] Dancing with the Stars

In February 2009, Johnson became a celebrity competitor on ABC's Dancing with the Stars season eight,^[54] partnered with season six winner, professional dancer Mark Ballas. She is the youngest competitor in show's history. In the finale, tightest in the show's history, Johnson beat Gilles Marini by less than 1%.

On 17 April 2009, she appeared in the music video Do You Love Me by Ballas Hough Band wearing one of her Dancing with the Stars costumes.^[55] Later, she reunited with one of the show hosts, Tom Bergeron, at the 82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee to discuss her victory.^{[citation needed]}

Other television appearances[link]

Johnson appeared on many talk shows: The Today Show on NBC (26 October 2007, 5 August 2008, and 7 October 2008), CCTV (20 August 2008),^[56] the Late Show with David Letterman (25 August 2008), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (24 August 2008), The Ellen DeGeneres Show (8 October 2007, 9 September 2008, and 12 March 2009), Live with Regis and Kelly (22 October 2008), Jimmy Kimmel Live! (20 May 2009), and Entertainment Tonight (23 episodes, 2009). Along with other Olympians, she appeared on the season premiere of The Oprah Winfrey Show (8 September 2008).^[57][58]

Johnson made a cameo appearance on The Secret Life of the American Teenager season finale episode "Just Say No," which aired 9 September 2008.^[59] Johnson shot a second episode, "Just Say Me", which aired 25 January 2010.^[60]

Johnson was a celebrity participant in the 2009 Taco Bell All-Star Legends Celebrity Softball Game which aired on ESPN, 13 July 2009.^[61]

Johnson appeared on the celebrity edition of Who Wants to be a Millionaire on 13 August 2009. She correctly answered a question about the lyrics to “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” winning $50,000 for her chosen charity, Blank Children’s Hospital.^[62]

Johnson presented awards at the 2009 CMT Music Awards and the 2009 Teen Choice Awards.^[58]

She judged the Miss America 2010 pageant along with Rush Limbaugh.^[63]

She was featured on Degrassi: The Next Generation soundtrack in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

Shawn Johnson is one of the 26 athletes followed by the BBC as part of the World Olympic Dreams series.

Public appearances[link]

Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance on 28 August 2008 at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.^{[64][65][66][67][68][69]}

On 27 July 2009, Johnson led the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field.^[70]

Gymnastic tours[link]

From September to November 2008, Johnson was a marquee member of The Tour of Gymnastics Superstars.^[71][72] Recorded sections of the tour's second show were included in Frosted Pink with a Twist, which is a television special about women's cancers (Johnson has a grandmother who is a cancer survivor).^[64][73] The television special also featured singers Jesse McCartney, Kenny Loggins, and Grammy Award singers Cyndi Lauper and Carole King.^[74][75] Johnson also headlined the Progressive Skating and Gymnastics Spectacular in Rapid City, South Dakota, on December 23, 2008. The show aired nationally on NBC on January 18, 2009.^[76]

Book[link]

In December 2008, Johnson unveiled a book, Shawn Johnson: Olympic Champion: Stories Behind the Smile (ISBN 978-1-934417-01-0), chronicling her life story through personal photographs and quotes.^[77]

Advertisements[link]

Midwest grocery chain Hy-Vee, headquartered in Johnson's hometown of West Des Moines, ran a television ad before and during the Olympics featuring Johnson. After the Olympics, Johnson appeared in television ads and online campaigns for Ortega ("Ortega makes my taco pop") and McDonalds, as well as print and web advertisements for CoverGirl and Secret deodorant. Johnson also appeared on food packaging for McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Oscar Mayer Lunchables and Hy-Vee products.^[78] Reports by Johnson's agent, Sheryl Shade, that Johnson would grace the Wheaties cereal box did not come to fruition.^[79] Her likeness did, however, appear on a limited edition Cheerios box in January 2009.^[80] Other endorsements included^{[81][82][83][84][85]}

• Longines
• Crest (toothpaste)
• Sanofi-Aventis (pharmaceuticals)
• OroWeat
• Willis Auto/Land Rover
• Circuit City
• InterContinental Hotels Group
• Eukanuba
• Nestle
• Bounty (P&G)

Charity work[link]

Since becoming a professional athlete, Johnson has been involved with numerous charitable causes. She has served as a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis, advocating awareness of women's cancers through the "What You Do Matters" campaign.^[86] Johnson has also partnered with Crest toothpaste to promote dental health, passing out toothpaste to low-income people.^[87] In December 2008, Johnson co-hosted a charity event with fellow Iowa native and actor Ashton Kutcher to raise money to repair areas of her home state devastated by flooding.^[88] According to her Web site, Johnson also supports the "Exercise Your Character" program through speaking engagements.^[89]

Stalking incident[link]

On March 25, 2009, a stalker was arrested after jumping a fence and sneaking onto the CBS lot. According to court documents filed in Los Angeles, 34-year-old Robert O'Ryan was arrested with the possession of guns, duct tape, zip ties, and love letters to Johnson. O'Ryan left his home in Florida and traveled to California, believing that Johnson spoke to him through the television via ESP, stating that they would be together and have a child. The Johnson family filed a restraining order against O'Ryan.^[90] O'Ryan was charged with felony stalking and two counts of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.^[91][92]

Competitive history[link]

Skills[link]

As of 2008, Johnson often competed the following skills, listed per apparatus.

• Vault: Amanar – 2¹⁄₂ twisting, laid out Yurchenko
• Bars: Toe-on full pirouette; Jaeger; Gienger; bail handstand; double twisting double layout dismount
• Floor: Double twisting double tuck; whip immediate triple full; front full punch layout rudi; double full; tucked full-in
• Beam: Two back handsprings to a back layout; Front Pike; standing tucked full; switch split leap to layout step out to pike back; full-in tuck dismount^{[citation needed]}

Senior career history[link]

^{[citation needed]}

Junior career history[link]

^{[citation needed]}

References[link]