Artistic gymnastics was added to the programme of the Summer Universiade in 1961 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Throughout its existence, university gymnastics provided athletes an opportunity to prepare themselves for other major FIG events such as the FIG World Championships or the Olympic Games.

History of Artistic Gymnastics in FISU 

The roots of modern day gymnastics trace back to ancient Egypt, when young gymnasts were performing to pharaohs and the Egyptian nobility, which was being depicted in Egyptian artifacts. Paintings and carvings show evidence of people building human pyramids and practicing balancing acts. Men and women of ancient Greece enjoyed bull-leaping, and gymnastics was part of the ancient Olympic Games.

Artistic gymnastics was added to the programme of the Summer Universiade in 1961 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Up to now, artistic gymnastics is a compulsory sport of the Summer Universiade and it is one of the most spectacular sports with excellent performances.

Throughout its existence, university gymnastics provided athletes an opportunity to prepare themselves for other major FIG events such as the FIG World Championships or the Olympic Games. The Zagreb gymnastics competitions in 1987, for example, were outstanding thanks to the participation of Soviet gymnast Elena Chouchounova. She took all the titles in Zagreb, before going on to confirm her mastery by collecting the individual and team gold medals at the Seoul Olympic Games. Other famous gymnasts such as Nadia Comaneci, Maria Filatova, Bogdan Makous, Ecaterina Szabo are few further names to mention.

Previous Events

• 2009 - 25th Summer Universiade – Belgrade (SRB)
• 2007 - 24th Summer Universiade – Bangkok (THA)
• 2005 - 23rd Summer Universiade – Izmir (TUR)
• 2003 - 22nd Summer Universiade – Daegu (KOR)
• 2001 - 21st Summer Universiade – Beijing (CHN)
• 1999 - 20th Summer Universiade - Palma de Mallorca (ESP)
• 1997 - 19th Summer Universiade – Sicily (ITA)
• 1995 - 18th Summer Universiade – Fukuoka (JPN)
• 1993 - 17th Summer Universiade – Buffalo (USA)
• 1991 - 16th Summer Universiade – Sheffield (GBR)
• 1987 - 14th Summer Universiade – Zagreb (YUG)
• 1985 - 13th Summer Universiade – Kobe (JPN)
• 1983 - 12th Summer Universiade – Edmonton (CAN)
• 1981 - 11th Summer Universiade – Bucharest (ROU)
• 1979 - 10th Summer Universiade - Mexico City (MEX)
• 1973 - 7th Summer Universiade – Moscow (URS)
• 1970 - 6th Summer Universiade – Torino (ITA)
• 1967 - 5th Summer Universiade – Tokyo (JPN)
• 1965 - 4th Summer Universiade – Budapest (HUN)
• 1963 - 3rd Summer Universiade - Porto Alegre (BRA)
• 1961 - 2nd Summer Universiade – Sofia (BUL)