When was gymnastics invented?

Gymnastics was invented more than 2,000 years ago, although the exact date is unknown. Gymnastics became popular in the early 1800s.

During the 1830s, the sport made its way into the United States and some schools began adding it as an extracurricular activity. In 1881, gymnastics became a competitive sport all around the world when the International Gymnastics Federation formed. In 1896, gymnastics became part of the Olympic Games and German gymnasts dominated the event in the early going. In 1903, the World Championships surrounding gymnastics took place in Belgium. In 1928, gymnastics became a permanent part of the Olympic Games and this includes team and individual competitions.