Gymnastics will reach a historic milestone at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. A total of 966 medals have so far been awarded to gymnasts at the modern Games, meaning the 1,000th medal will be won at Rio Olympic Arena in Barra da Tijuca. In the first edition of the Olympic Games in South America, 18 gymnastics events will take place and 54 medals will be awarded , across the three disciplines: artistic, rhythmic and trampoline.

Of the three disciplines, artistic gymnastics is the most traditional, having been present since the first Games of the modern era in Athens in 1896, and 903 medals have been awarded. The former Soviet Union has an impressive history in the discipline, having won 64 gold medals. The United States has won a little less than half as many golds (31), while Japan (27), China (26) and Romania (24) also have a strong tradition in these events.

Rhythmic gymnastics entered the Olympic programme at the Los Angeles 1984 Games. Eight editions later, 39 medals have been awarded. Russia is the strongest country in this discipline, having won eight golds. Another two golds were won by the former Soviet Union and the Unified Team, the latter of which was composed of the republics of the former USSR for the Barcelona 1992 Games. Spain, Ukraine and Canada have each won one gold.

The last gymnastics discipline to enter the Olympic Games was trampoline, which made its debut at Sydney 2000. Since then, 24 medals have been awarded, with China leading the way with three. Russia has won two, followed by Canada, Ukraine and Germany with one each.

A different history for each discipline

Created in Germany as a military training and fitness technique, artistic gymnastics debuted at Athens 1896 with competitions for men. Woman began to participate the Amsterdam 1928 Games. With free and apparatus-based competitions, men compete in floor exercises and on the vault, horizontal bar, parallel bars, pommel horse and rings. Women compete in floor exercises and on the vault, uneven bars and balance beam. Medals are awarded in individual events, in which participants compete using all apparatus, in teams and on each set of apparatus.

Rhythmic gymnastics, meanwhile, originated in group gymnastics practices, involving choreography, and is influenced by classical types of dance such as ballet. Performed exclusively by women, the discipline’s competitions consist of individual and team presentations featuring five gymnasts, in an area measuring 13 by 13 metres, using four of five elements: rope, ball, hoop, ribbon and clubs.

Trampoline gymnastics was created in the United States in the 1930s by physical education teacher and former gymnast George Nissen, who was inspired by the safety nets of circus trapeze artists. In their presentations, athletes go through a series of 10 routines, including simple, double and triple jumps, with or without pirouettes, which may go as high as 10 metres above the trampoline. A specialist jury assesses the athletes’ performances and gives scores to each participant, deducting points for errors. Since its debut in Sydney, the discipline has comprised men’s and women’s individual contests.