Top Ten #FunFacts About Gymnastics That Your Child Should Know

Gymnastics is a fascinating sport. It is a sport with a history as far back as Ancient Greece that continues to evolve to this day! Check out these ten fun facts below that you can share with your young gymnast.

1. Only women compete on the Balance Beam and Uneven Bars. Only men compete on the Parallel Bars, High Bar, Pommel Horse, and Rings. 
2. Women were not allowed to participate in gymnastics for the Olympics until 1928.
3. 2008 Gold Medalist Olympic Gymnast, Shawn Johnson, also competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2009 and won!
4. American gymnast, Simone Biles, has the most gymnastic skills named for her.
5. Total Sportek has ranked gymnastics as the 4th hardest sport. It follows MMA, Boxing, and Rugby.
6. The first Perfect 10s in gymnastics were scored in 1976.
7. Mary Lou Retton, in her recognizable patriotic gymnastics leotard, won the 1st All-Around Gold for the USA in 1984.
8. Gymnastics is one of the few sports that require athletes to wear a uniform - the most common being a gymnastics leotard.
9. Uniforms in gymnastics were developed by a French acrobat. Today gymnastics apparel can include leotards, unitards, and compression shorts. 
10. The oldest sports organization is the Federation of International Gymnastics or FIG.

Did we miss any? Let us know your favorite gymnastics fun fact by emailing us at Destirastars@destira.com. 

Sources:

https://nimblesports.com/blog/10-interesting-facts-about-gymnastics/

https://facts.net/gymnastics-facts/

https://interesting-facts.com/gymnastics-facts/