Olympic games today and 60 years ago

MTV News compared the videos of modern professional gymnasts with those of the past. One immediately receives the first impression that the complexity and tempo of the sport have grown beyond comparison.

But there is another explanation, which described well in the commentary to the video.

‘You fail to mention the differences in equipment that also make new gymnastics possible, such as spring floors, bars that bend, beams with pads & covering with shock absorbers and vault tables.

We also have training items that minimize impact, repetitive use injury & allow safer training of newer/bigger skills.

These women were on wooden beams, wrestling mats filled with horsehair on top of hard wood floors and with bar sets that were ridged.

Both sets of athletes deserve credit for their accomplishments. It wasn’t easier, it was different.’

Published: 18.08.2016