International book international book of favorite sports_FV | Page 62

(Mar Rodrigo and Carla Torres – Spain)
Gymnastics started as ancient civilizations doing strength and acrobatic exercises.
The word gymnastics comes from the Greek words “gymnos” and “gymnazo” meaning
roughly to train, to exercise naked.
Johann Christoph Friedrich Gutsmuths, a German teacher and educator, is
considered the great grandfather of gymnastics.
A fellow German, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn is known as the father of gymnastics. He was
a member of the Prussian army in the early 1800s. After a battle in which the Prussian
army was defeated, he came up with the idea of improving morale by developing
physical and mental strength through gymnastics. He opened the first Turnplatz, or
open air gymnasium in 1811.
Most of the early training was focused on physical health and fitness.
Sources:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/25/e8/56/25e8567b220024caafe8f713381eb650.jpg
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimnastyka_sportowa
https://dolny-
slask.org.pl/foto/30/Obchody_Niemieckiego_Swieta_Sportu_i_Gimnastyki_Stadion_Olimpijski_Lipiec_1938_Wro
claw_30013.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Towarzystwo_Gimnastyczne_%22Sok%C3%B3%C5%82
%22_w_Katowicach_1-P-1076.jpg
http://www.mksgdansk.pl/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/iStock_000024629229Medium.jpg
http://www.uks-gimnazjon.pl/images/galeria/historia/big/historia_05.jpg
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