Gymnastics History:

·         The first women's gymnastics instruction in the United States was given at Mount Holyoke College in 1862.

·         Olympic gymnastics competition for women was introduced at the 1928 games.

·         Larissa Latynina of Russia won 18 Olympic gymnastic medals, thus setting an Olympics record for women: nine gold medals, five silver, and four bronze between 1956 and 1964.

·         Marcia Frederick was the first American woman to win the World Gymnastics Championship. She won in 1978 on the uneven bars.

·         Olga Korbut of the Soviet Union inspired thousands of girls to take up gymnastics after she won two gold medals and one silver medal in the 1972 Olympics. She was later named Female Athlete of the Year.

·         In the 1976 Olympics, Nadia Comaneci of Romania became the first gymnast in Olympic history to score a perfect 10.0. She did this on the uneven bars. She went on to record six more perfect scores during those Olympics.

·         In 1984, 16-year-old Mary Lou Retton of West Virginia won the Olympic gold medal in the Women's All-Around event, thanks to her perfect performance on the vault. She was the first American to win that event.

.     In 1992, Olympic Gold Medalist Peter Vidmar visited NASA Gymnastics and shared highlights of his gymnastics career which included Olympic and World Championship performances and winning Gold and Silver medals in international competition.Vidmar was a member of the 1984 USA Olympic Gold Medal winning team. 

·         Shannon Miller is now the most decorated female American gymnast of all time. She has seven Olympic medals altogether, two gold, two silver, and three bronze. Only three American women, swimmers Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres, and Shirley Babashoff, have more Olympic medals.

·         Kerri Strug provided us with one of the most exciting events of the 1996 Olympics and gymnastics history when she nailed her vault on an injured foot to insure the gold medal for the United States team. Strug was just one member of the gold medal winning team that is known as the “Magnificent Seven.” The others are Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, and Jaycee Phelps.

·         In the 2004 Olympics, 16-year-old Carly Patterson of Texas became the second American ever to win the Women's All-Around event. She was the first to do so in a year when the Olympics weren't being boycotted by other countries. Patterson retired from gymnastics in 2006 due to lower back problems and a desire to become a recording artist.

·         In the 2008 Olympics, 18 year-old Nastia Lyukin of Texas, became the third American ever, to win the Women's Olympic All Around event. Lyukin also earned silver medals on Floor and Beam and in the Team Competition.

·         In the 2008 Olympics, 16 year- old Shawn Johnson of Iowa, won the Gold Medal on Balance Beam and earned the Silver Medal on Floor Exercise and in the Team Competition. She was considered by most who watched the games as the "darling of the Olympics."

·         In October of 2008, Olympic Silver Medal Winner Jonathan Horton visited NASA Gymnastics in Gig Harbor, WA and spent time with the athletes answering questions about the Olympics,  training, and Horton's Olympic experience. Horton performed a strength routine on the Rings for all who attended. Olympic Champions Shawn Johnson and Nastia Lyukin along with Horton performed in the Tacoma Dome with the Tour of Champions. The event was a superior showing of gymnastics skills by many current and former Olympians including Shannon Miller and Blayne Wilson!