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1904 St. Louis Olympics: Gymnastics

Gymnastics

The gymnastics events took place on July 1st, 2nd, and 4th, but these weren't gymnastics as we know the sport today. Instead gymnastics at the 1904 Olympics consisted of apparatus events and track and field events.

Apparatus Events

  • Horizontal bar
  • Parallel bars
  • Side horse
  • Long horse

                                        Parallel bars

In the apparatus events, athletes were scored on a scale from 0-5.

 

Track & Field Events

  • Long jump
  • Shotput
  • 100 yard dash

Scoring for these track and field events varied. For the long jump, 18 feet earned the standard of 10 points. Judges added or subtracted from 10 for each tenth of a foot over or under 18 feet.

The scores from the apparatus events and the track and field events were combined to determine individual and team winners. 

A man named George Eyser competed in gymnastics and was considered to be a remarkable athlete. His left leg was made of wood, yet he finished 2nd in the apparatus events. He finished last 118 out of 118, in the 100 yard dash. Eyser ended up medaling in six events.

                            George Eyser