It's July of 1881. Visionaries of gymnastics pen the first words in the History of Gymnastics. The International Federation is created. Founder Nicolas Cupérus is a contemporary of Pierre de Coubertin, the man who would modernise the Olympic Games. Unaware of the tie that binds them, the destinies of these two men would intertwine; the former as an ever-faithful actor in a play the latter would write. In 1896, gymnastics enters the stage through the Athens Olympic Games.

To the Internet generation of 2008, this news may seem as insignificant as a pixel ! And yet, it is of fundamental importance. The FIG has accompanied the Olympic Movement from its very beginnings.

A bit of history
As early as 1896, male gymnasts participated in the Olympic Games in running and climbing events, which feature strength and speed. Star competitors at that time were German, Greek, Hungarian and Swiss. In 1928 in Amsterdam (NED), women were granted Olympic status. Dutch, Italian and British triumphed. But women would have to wait until 1934 to participate in the FIG world championships !

In 1963, 'Modern' Gymnastics, later known as Rhythmic, held its premier world championships in Budapest (HUN). The first champion was Soviet: Ludmilla Savinkova. The discipline turned Olympic in 1984 in Los Angeles, where it boasted its first Olympic champion : Lori Fung (CAN). In 1996, Groups gained Olympic status, and Spain took the title in Atlanta (USA).

In August 2000, Trampoline landed in Sydney (AUS) to take part in the Olympic Games. Alex Moskalenko and Irina Karavaeva (RUS) were the first to be crowned.

Today, in 2008, the Olympic dream captivates aerobic and acrobatic gymnasts the world over. But these will have to wait for the day when the FIG rallies its many disciplines and gymnasts round the great Mount Olympus. /phs