Gajdos A., Provaznikova M., Banjak S.J. 150 YEARS OF THE SOKOL GYMNASTICS IN ...
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150 YEARS OF THE SOKOL GYMNASTICS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA, CZECH AND SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Anton Gajdos, Maria Provaznikova and Stephen J. Banjak
Bratislava, Slovakia
Original research article
Abstract
Gymnastics in Slavic countries started in 1862 with Sokol club in Prague. Leader Miroslav Tyrs made strong organisation within Austro Hungary imperia, which competed also at Olympic Games under Bohemia name. After World War I Czech and Slovak nations joint in new state Czechoslovakia. Time between world wars was most succesfull time with many gold medals at Olympic games and Word Championships. After the second world war communist party took a leading role in gymnastics development with highlight on women side; Vera Caslavska is the best athlete of this time. After velvet revolution Czechoslovakia split into two countries Czech and Slovakia. Gymnastics tradition continues again under Sokol brand name.
Keywords: history, gymnastics, Czech, Slovakia.
Period 1862 - 1918
One hundered and fifty years ago, on February 16, 1862, the „Prague Gymnastic Unit" came into being at the Prague Normal School, located then on Panska Street, Bohemia.
At first it appeared that this would become a bilingual, Czech-German organization. At least these were the intentions of the gymnasts at the Schmidt Gymnastics Institute, which was then very close to extinction. The only reason the planned bi-lingual club did not materialize was the opposition of the chauvinist German bank director Seutter von Leutzen. This philanthropist refused bluntly to contribute to a Czech-German organization. The Germans, therefore, cancelled their agreement which the Czechs, who withdrew their subscriptions and decided to establish an independent Czech Gymnastic Club.
The thirty-year-old Dr. Miroslav Tyrs readily joined the movement. He saw in this a clear path towards the realization of a far more important idea, which had been germinating for some time in his mind.
All this took place during the wave of youthful patriotic bustle that spread throughout the Czech nation following the demise of Bach's absolutism. Tyrs was at this particular time employed as tutor in the family of industrialist Bartelmus in New Jachymov. At this time in history the National Rebirth was almost accomplished linguistically, artistically, scientifically, economically, and socially. But this did not satisfy young Tyrs. He was constantly being disturbed by the question about his nation's future.
In his philosophic studies he was deeply involved in Darwin's theory of the evolution of the species and the survival of the fittest.
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In his studies in history he was deeply concerned with the question of the destruction of ancient nations. To him, the history of mankind is an eternal struggle for survival to which must succumb and perish all that is unfit to live and through its own fault. In support of this theory Tyrs pointed to the ancient Greeks who preserved their independence against tremendous odds, only by their physical fitness, spiritual maturity and moral qualities, closely associated with boundless love of country and liberty.
This was the model Tyrs wanted for his country. He wanted to give it the spiritual and moral maturity, which would secure its
Figure 1. Miroslav Tyrš in Sokol uniform
future. The nation's renaissance was already secure in all fields of human endeavor. But it lacked physical excellence, the necessary basis for fighting power, together with organizational aility, respect for discipline and cooperation and the ability to set aside individual interests to the interests of the entire nation. Through his experience in the various gymnastic institutes he realized that physical exercise does not affect merely one's physical well being, but in the hands
of good instructors, it can affect the development of one' s character and social attitudes. For this reason, Tyrs selected gymnastics as the means for training the nation in the very qualities necessary for its preservation and complete fulfillment.
In this line of thinking Tyrs found exceptional understanding in a truly rare man he had met in the Bartelmus family circle. This was Jindrich Fugner, a Prague Merchant, who used to spend his summer vacations in a gamekeeper's lodge not far from Jachymov. This noble, broad minded man and convinced demorat, in spite of his German upbringing, was well aware of the excellence of the Czech nation and he felt the injustice it suffered under the Austrian yoke. Thus the efforts of the two men met on a common ground. Fugner agreed readily with plans advanced by Tyrs.
They both returned to Prague in the fall of 1861 just at the time when plans were being considered for the formation of a Czech Gymnastic Organization. The two men reached an agreement with Dr. Edward Gregr and Professor Emanuel Tonner, and with their well thought out program they quickly assumed the leadership of the new organization. The most outstanding chracteristics of the organization from its very inception was the democratic spirit insisted uupon, especially, by Fugner. The spirit of equality, expressed in the use of addressing each other as „brother", attracted participants from the broadest strata of contemporary life. In conjunction with its high, lofty aims, it turned quickly into a nation widde movement. At Professor Tonner's suggestion this movement was named „Sokol" (Falcon) and the falcon in flight on its banner became the symbol of high flight and courage.
If the Sokol were to bring forth physical, spiritual and moral uplifting of the nation, it would have to involve the natioon as a whole, not only a limited segment. The unity of the nation, the entire nation, of all its levels and strata was the inescapable condition towards reaching the goal.
Fugner declared emphatically: „Let us be a society of united brothers, not divided
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by political differences of religion," a declaration that became law among the Sokols.
The Sokol idea quickly burst into a mighty flame that spread across the nation's physical boundaries. One year after its birth in Prague there was a Sokol unit in Ljublania. In just three years, in the year of Fugner's death, there were twenty active units in Bohemia and Moravia, with 200 members, and Sokol units were established among the Slovenes and in America. These were followed by Poland, Croatia and Serbia. By the years 1871 there were 120 units with 11.000 members. To Tyrs a nation is not just its men. „There is no universal all embracing patriotism, and woe to the nation where manly endeavors are not appreciated by its women". „This led Tyrs to initiate and help establish in 1869 the „Gymnastic Society of Women and Girls of Prague", an organization that conveyed the Sokol idea to the women.
The rapid growth of the new movement aroused the suspicion of the Austrian government who saw in it the center for „subversive elements." They even forbade the Prague Sokol from extending its physical education classes to units outside of Prague. It was not until after Tyrs' death that it was permitted to combine several units into districts which later became the Czech-Moravian Sokol Community. It was not until 1906 that all the several districts together with the Lower Austria district formed the only Czech Sokol Community.
All of Tyrs' efforts were directed to one culminating goal, namely, the placing of the nation amidst other free nations as equal among equals. At the beginning he had faith in the possibility of realizing this project within the framework of a federated Austri, a belief shared at that time by most leading Czech politicians.
But soon Tyrs himself became negative towards Austria and began to plan the Czech nation' s preparation for its independence. Tyrs' successors accepted this position as the founder's legacy, nurtured it among the Sokols and continued to prepare for the struggle which was not yet
in sight, but which seemed to all of them unavoidable. Their attitude towards the authorities was characterized by proud defiance.
The Sokol Slets speak clearly, unmistakenly both in the ostentatious fraternalizing with visitors from counteries openly unfriendly towards Austria as well as in the underlying significance of the elaborate scenes prepared for each Slet. Thus the subject of the Fifth Slet in 1907 was a scene depicting Zizka's victory against King Sigismund in the battle near Kutna Hora. Then at the Sixth Slet in 1912 the colorful scene depicted the victory of the Athenians against the superiority of the Persians at the Battle of Marathon. In both these scenes the nation was given an opportunity to witness the victory of a small but morally strong nation against a numerically far superior enemy.
Following the Sixth Slet the internal preparations assumed the character of direct preparations for revolt. The author of the play „After the Battle of Marathon" declared in his poem „The Sound of the Olympic", that everything the viewers can see is merely a preparation for the early conquering of our own Czech Marathon. He explained that the nation is merely looking up toward the accumulated black storm clouds with the question „When"?.
It was under this emotional mood that the last review of the Sokol strenghts was held in Brno in June 1914. Pluhar, the deputy governor, declared in his ceremonial address that the Czech nation understood the deeper mission of the Sokol in serving the nation' s battle of the past hundreds of years. He reiterated that the nation has decided to once again assume the position it had held in the past, that it now had a strong arm with which to break all violence and the strong will which will guide this arm. That was the Sokol. Pluhar's conclusions sounded that challenge: „We are here once again, and we want to be unfettered, powerful and free." Just a few hours after the bold declaration came the shattering news about the Sarajevo assassination; the First World War would begin!
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Professor T.G.Masaryk was well aware of the Sokol thinking while contemplating the struggle against Austria. His first step led him to Dr. Scheiner, president of the Czech Sokol Organization, and he declared, „I am thinking first of all with the Sokols. I know them and am depending on them." In response to this Dr. Scheiner offered immediately the total assistance of all Sokols, and even some of his and the Sokol's monetary funds. Later in his memoirs Masaryk recalled thta this offer was the first monetary contribution to the resistance.
The Sokol and the Sokol ideal were expressed most convincingly in the formation of the legions. The first such voluntary unit as the „Na Zdar" company with members of the Paris Sokols forming its core. The Sokol gave the legions their spirit. Masaryk himself testifies to this saying, „In addition to the Hussite and Taborite traditions, it was the Sokol ideal that led us on, the Sokol discipline and order which the individuals knew so well and to which they yielded so readily and which became their second nature. This Sokol spirit penetrated into the victorious army."
Period 1918 - 1939
Then came October 28, 1918. All through the streets of Prague the people were singing, rejoicing, but in all this exulting multitude the Sokols were conspicuously absent. They had been called together in the early forenoon by urgent posters in order to complete the victory on the home ground and to protect it. It must be remembered that at this momentin history Prague was still militarily in the hands of the Austrian generals and their faithful Rumanian regiments. The most difficult part of the revolutionary action, the taking over of military power, was entrusted by the National Council to Dr. Scheiner. Wearing his Sokol uniform and accompanied by Dr. Francis Soukup and several other brothers, Dr. Scheiner went directly to the headquarters of the territorial military command on the Mala Strana to negotiate
the takeover. At first the generals hesitated to surrender the control but when they saw that in the meantime other Sokols entered the building, flooding its courtyard and the halls with their red shirts they realized the inevitableness of the situation and yielded to the demands. Simultaneously other Sokol groups occupied the Prauge armories and began disarming the Rumanian soldiers. Similar actions were taking place in the garrisons in other cities. All over the land the Sokols with virtually bare hands were disarming entire enemy regiments - and this was not always so smooth and without resistance.
Who knows if the revolution could have taken place so smoothly and without losses of life and property if there were not present the nation's mighty arms, referred to by Dr. Pluhar at the Sokol Slet in Brno. The Sokols formed sentry guard units that watched over order in the nation and over national property. Within three or four days after the transition the entire national property was in the hands of the Sokol Community. Practically the entire executive power of the National Council was transferred to the Sokols.
Since it was evident that organizing a regular army would require quite a bit of time, the Czech Sokol Community offered to the National Council for the interim period, the formation of voluntary Sokol regiments to be called Guards of Freedom. The National Council accepted this offer very gratefully and the Sokols were further joined by the students, the Czech Marksmanship Organization and the Workers Gymnastic Units. The Guards of Freedom were originally intended to merely serve to maintain order but in Slovakia they had to perform actual military duties. Asi s well known, there the changeover did not go along as smoothly as in the historic Czech lands. The Magyars were reluctanct to give up Slovakia and this had to be fought for from city to city, from one garrison to another.
Before the Slovak government was established the resistance of the Magyars and the German assumed exceptionally
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threatening proportions in Bratislava. Zoch, the district administrator and other leaders appealed by urgent telegrams on February 2, 1919 addressed to the Czech Sokol Community asking that 2.000 Sokols be sent to Bratislava without delay to help maintain order. A simple appeal through the daily press was sufficient, and within 36 hours 2.480 Sokols in uniform arrived in Bratislava. Their very presence prevented bloodshed and was sufficient to assure peaceful takeover by the new government.
But even this did not end the Sokol role as national army. In June of 1919 the Magyar communists invaded Slovakia and occupied a number of cities. Once again the pro-tem government in Bratislava asked th eSokols for help. And once again, within two days after the telegraphed request, the first division of Sokol volunteers was on their way from Prague to Slovakia. The Sokol Organization ordered immediate draft and 86.000 Sokols responded. Of these 10.000 were sent to Slovakia - thus, thanks to the Sokol assistance the advance of Magyar communists was halted and Bratislava was saved.
Conditions in the Republic were far from ideal. It was not only the legionaires who returned to their homes, but also the communists trained by the Russian Bolshevik revolution with their plans for Bolsehvism in the young state. In this they were aided by the initial difficulties facing the government, which could not create order out of chaos in one day. Furthermore there were the problems of providing food and Essentials in a country exhausted and depleted by war. The communists eagerly fed the people's dissatisfaction with the slow pace of improvement as they kept harassing and inciting the workers, and organized frequent demonstrations and marches.
It was under such conditions that the Sokols were making preparations for their Seventh Slet, the first in their liberated country. But before the Slet could actually be realized, the Prague Sokols had to face the communist threat to do everything to prevent the holding of the Slet. There was
genuine fear that the fanatic communists might undercut the columns supporting the grandstands or even set them on fire.
At a time when all other succession government in Europe were struggling with economic poverty and internal confusion, in the Czechoslovak Republic, just one year and eight months old, the Sokols staged a Slet which attracted the attention and admiration of the outside world. However, its greatest significancy was the affect it had right at home. The Slet stirred the nation' sconscience, it jarred it from its depression and woke in it, decision and efficient will. It showed clearly that only courage and hard work could leave the nation from the post war difficulties and save it from the dangers of communists.
The most important role in the internal structure of the Sokol after the first World War was the expansion of Sokol activity to Slovakia and Ruthenia. The original name of the organization was changed to Czechoslovak Sokol Community. In the days of Austria-Hungary the Sokol was not allowed to exist there and several attempts at establishing an organization were foiled at the very inception. Many Slovaks would join the Sokol during their student year in other parts of the historic lands of Bohemia and Moravia, and would, at great risk, secretly travel to the Slets in Prague. The American Slovaks had begun the organizing of Sokol units since 1892, forerunner of Sokol USA. It is understandable therefore that after the revolution Sokol began to spread rapidly throughout Slovakia. The units were being established simultaneously with the advance of the Guard of Freedom, replacing the Hungarian garrisons. The first unit was created one week after the Prague revolt, November 4, 1918, in the Masaryk Sokol District intended to cover all Slovakia. However, by October of the same year, it was necessary to break up into six separate districts which were joined later by the Ruthenian Sokol District.
After World War I, after formation of the Czechoslovak Republic /1918/ in that time , there have been big stream of Czech civil servants, teachers and others who
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spread thoughts espesially of the Sokol's movement in Slovakia. As early as in 1918 in Uhorskej Skalici /Hungarian Skalica/ came into existence first organized Sokol's choir.The Sokol's movement has been spread namely due to the Slovak patriots such as there were Mr. Vavro Srobar, Pavel Blaho, Kornel Stodola, Samuel Zoch and others.
At the beginning of the year 1919, there have been united 39 Sokol's associations into so called Masarykovej zupy /hereinafter county/ Masaryk's County. Its mayor became Mr. Vavro Srobar. At the end of the year 1919 County has been devided into 6 Counties namely:
Povazska zupa Stefanikova /residence Nove Mesto nad Vahom, let us say Trencin/, Bratislavska zupa Masarykova /residence Bratislava/, Nitrianska zupa Svatoplukova /residence Nitra/, Podtatranska zupa Hviezdoslavova /residence Martin/, Pohronska zupa Detvan /residence Banska Bystrica/ and Vychodoslovenska zupa Jana Kollara /residence Kosice/. These Counties already existed until the year 1938. Number of Sokol members in Slovakia step by step increased when in the year 1920, there have been registered 18 499 members and in the year 1937 there have already been 49 378 members.
Sokol's members from Slovakia have been regularly taking part at so called „Vsesokolskych zletoch" /all Sokol's jamborees/ in Prague in the years 1920, 1926, 1932 and 1938.
The importance of the Sokol in Slovakia in addition to its physical and moral upbringing was most of a its contribution to the creation of Czechoslovak unity. From the very beginning the Sokol in Slovakia and in the historic lands was solidly one body and soul. There were no organizational divisions, no differences, no special privileges. Constant contact in the instructor's schools, meetings, Slets and visits supported mutual understanding and served to strengten the units. The Sokol was one of the strongest supporters of Czechoslovak unity.
In 1926 when the contagion of fascism began spread in Europe the Eighth Sokol Slet came in the nick of time to support the democratic strength of the nation.
n™-	■ <■ ■	ffli^rr. ........	^„J, ,„ -.J.k
Figure 2. Czechoslovakia team at World Championship 1926 in Lyon
The organization grew and became stronger and stronger. In 1932, by its Ninth Slet, the Sokol celebrated the one hundredth birthday of Dr. Miroslav Tyrs. One year after the Ninth Slet Hitler took over in neighboring Germany. The first victim of Nazis was the Luzicky Sokol, which was dissolved immediately after Hitler's rise to power, and its leading members imprisoned. The Sokol responded to the growing threats from Nazi Germany by increased activity, especially in matters of training for armed and civil defense, both actions carried out in close cooperation with the army. When the Sokol defense units were called together in April 1937 as a review of preparedness and reliability, 530.000 participants responded.
It was such a climate that the Tenth Sokol Slet was being held. The final preparations for the Slet were interrupted by the occupation of Austria by Hitler, the May mobilization and Henlein's ultimatum. But all this only strenghtened the Sokol determination to express, by the Slet, their will to defend themselves; to defend the freedom and independence of their nation. This Slet expressed the sould of the nation, its faith and its will. For the entire period that followed, the Slet served as a symbol and source of strength. When the conditions were at their worst, when after Munich
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agreement (leaving Schlezia to Germany) there was not a single spark of hope, the country was strengthened by the heartwarming memory of the Tenth Slet.
Within less than three months after the Slet came „Munich" and the rape of Czechoslovakia. As a result of this blow, the Sokol lost 548 Units and 3 Districts that disappeared completely, and others that were reduced territorially. The Sokol was completely dissolved in Slovakia.
Period 1939 - 1948
The Nazi occupation of the whole country March 15, 1939 was a signal for the Sokol to begin its underground resistance, which was set in action the very moment that the German troops marched upon Czechoslovak soil. The Sokols had a lions share in all the underground activities ranging from the intelligence service for the Czechoslovak government in exile in London to sabotage and to organizing partisan units. At this time the illegal Sokol played a significant role in the national uprising in Slovakia whose political and military leaders were predominantly Sokols.
In spite of all the caution the Sokol underground activity did not escape the attention of the occupation powers who in April 1941 forbade further activities of the Sokol Community. Since the secession of Slovakia the Sokol Community was once again referred to as strictly Czech Sokol. In October of the same year the organization was dissolved, its property (estimated at 2 billion Kc) confiscated and thousands of Sokol members dragged away to the concentration camps.
For three years after the war, to the Eleventh Slet, it ws an uninterrupted struggle against the communist's efforts to seize control of the Sokol. Profiting by the Nazi experience the communists knew that dissolution would not destroy the Sokol spirit, they chose the opposite approach... to get control of the spirit by infiltration. Furthermore the communists wanted to preserve the Sokol in order to gain its confidence at home and abroad. The means
for attaining this goal was to be the unification of all the organizations of sports and physical education, towards which they were working by negotiating as well as resorting to pressure. Simultaneously, however, they were treacherously blocking the revival of the Czechoslovak Sokol Community and by ordering their people to join en masse the Sokol units. Basically the Sokol did not oppose the unification, but under one condition, that such joining be absolutely voluntary and that the new groups not assume merely the Sokol name but the Sokol idea as well. As could have been expected this condition was rejected, especially by the sports groups. After half a year of futile negotiations the Sokols withdrew from the preliminary committee for unification and renewed fully its organization and its activities.
After the renewal of activity there began an avalanche-like tide of applications to the Sokol. The nation saw in the Sokol the only possible dam against the growing communist danger. By the end of 1947 the Sokol recorded one half million members and with the youth groups the organization had a total of more than one million members.
Figure 3. Czechoslovak women team - gold medal OG 1948 London. From left: V.Dekanova - coach, V. Ruzickova, J. Srncova, O. Silhanova, M. Mullerova, E. Misakova, Zd. Honcova, S. Misakova , Zd.Vermirovska, M. Kovarova
Plans for the Eleventh Slet were being undertaken with new and untrained membership. The enthusiasm for the Slet
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exceeded everything known in the past. The Slets had become symbols of freedom, democracy and humanity.
Four months before the Slet the communists carried out their coup. The quickly summoned directorship of the Czechoslovak Sokol Community offered to President Benes the help of the Sokols in defense of democracy, but it was too late. The Sokol delegation was not allowed admission to the President. The various active committees injected into the Sokol by the communist party arbitrarily expelled old Sokol leaders and replace dthese with communists who had nothing in common with the Sokol. Within secret Sokol circles consideration was given to canceling to show the world that „nothing had happened" and that the nation agreed with the new regime, and was cooperating with it in complete harmony. On the other hand, the Sokol leadership wanted to hold the Slet for other reasons. It had become clear that the Slet would be a farewell parting with the Sokol, the last gathering of the Sokol brothers for an unpredictable length of time. The Slet fulfilled this aim and numerically exceeded all previous events. It was a gathering saddened by the sorrow of parting.
Soon after the Slet it was clear that the Sokol had definitely ceased to be a democratic organization and had become a helpless tool of the communist regime. The Sokol members of the directorship, who were still the majority, voted for mass resignation of the entire executive committee, and when this was not adopted they resigned individually with the exception of three members. Then followed mass arrests and the expulsion of thousands of Sokols, whose positions were filled by known communists. After this the government thought that it finally had the Sokol in its hands, but again it was not so. The remaining membership, insofar as they did not step out, began passive resistance. This forced the government to abolish the Sokol organization even merely as a name.
After 1948
After 1948 Czechoslovakia further developed gymnastics, instead of Slets authorities organised Spartakiada. Gymnastics was a national sport with huge results mostly in women gymnastics with Vera Caslavska, with the economic crises in eighties all high performance sport was in decline. In period 1990 - 1993 Czech and Slovak gymnasts competed at WCH and at another international gymnastics competition under Czech republic and Slovakia. In January 1st 1993 Czechoslovakia split and also split Czechoslovak gymnastics federation. So born Slovak gymnastics federation and Czech gymnastics federation.
Figure 4. Vera Caslavska
New period for Sokol's life in Czechoslovakia started after "Velvet revolution" 1989. Czechoslovak Sokol Organisation had to fight to receive it's property in Czech and also Slovak Republic. Sokol's movement in both newly developed republics had and still have generational problems.
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Czech Sokol Organisation /COS/ in present time has around 1100 units with 1900 00 members. New organization of Sokol in Slovak Republic has a new title Sokol in Slovakia has around only 80 units and around 5000 members. In both Sokol's organisations more and more are coming a young generation to practise a new modern sport activities. Members of Sokol's organization participating also at World
Gymnaestradas, etc. In present time /spring -sommer 2012/ lot of member of Sokol's units from Czech and Slovak Republic are preparing for a great Sport Festival - Pan -Sokol Slet which will be hold at 3Oth June - July 7th 2012 in Prague. Both Sokol's organisations from Czech and Slovak Republic in present time are a member of World Sokol Union.
GYMNASTICS RESULTS at OLYMPIC GAMES 1896 - 2008
Place/Year	Country	Results
Paris 1900	Bohemia	All - around: 34. Frantisek Erben
London 1908	Bohemia	All - around: 25. Josef Cada 36. Bohumil Honzatko
Stockholm 1912	Bohemia Hungary	All - around: 36. Bohumil Honzatko 2. team competition Ludovit Kmetko as a member of the Hungarian team, the first Slovak Olympic medalist, born at Kosice - East Slovakia
Antwerpen 1920 Czechoslovakia
Team competition: 4. (Josef Bochnicek, Ladislav Bubenicek, Josef Cada, Miroslav Klinger, Josef Maly, Stanislav Indruch, Zdenek Opocensky, Josef Pagac, Frantisek Pechacek, Robert Prazak, Vaclav Stolar, Svatopluk Svoboda, Ladislav Vacha, Frantisek Vanecek, Jaroslav Velda, Vaclav Wirt)_
Paris 1924
Czechoslovakia
All - around: 2. Robert Prazak, 3. Bedrich Supcik, 5. Miroslav Klinger, 6. Ladislav Vacha, 11. Jan Koutny, 13. Bohumil Morkovsky
Parallel bars: 2. Robert Prazak 6. Ladislav Vacha Vault: 2. Jan Koutny, 3. Bohumil Morkovsky Rings: 2. Robert Prazak, 3. Ladislav Vacha, 5. Bedrich Supcik
Rope climbing /9m/: Bedrich Supcik - 7.2 seconds: it was the first gold for Czechoslovakia_
Amsterdam 1928
Czechoslovakia
Team competition: 2. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 9. Ladislav Vacha, 10. Emanuel Loffler,
13. Jan Gajdos, 14. Josef Effenberger, 20. Bedrich
Supcik
28. Vaclav Vesely, 31. Jan Koutny, 37. Ladislav Tikal Parallel bars: 1. Ladislav Vacha, 4. - 6. Jan Gajdos and Bedrich Supcik Vault: 1. Emanuel Loffler
Rings: 2.Ladislav Vacha, 3. Emanuel Loffler, 6. Bedrich Supcik
MAG: Team competition: 5. Czechoslovakia All - around: 4. Alois Hudec, 22. Jaroslav Kollinger, Berlin 1936	Czechoslovakia 25. Jan Sladek, 27. Jan Gajdos, 33. Vratislav Petracek,
36. Jindrich Tintera, 38. Emanuel Loffler _Rings: 1. Alois Hudec: his routine was: vertical pull-
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up, arms sidewards and straight, to „L" support, press to handstand bent body with straight arms, lower to inverted cross, arms horizontal and straight, lower to cross, lower to front lever, inlocate with straight body, Stemme bacward to cross, Felge forward with straight body and slowly press to handstand, Felge backward to cross, „L" cross, lower with straight body to straight inverted hang, inlocate forward with straight body, inlocate to piked inverted hang and dislocate layout flyaway. Parallel bars: 4. Alois Hudec
WAG: Team competition: 2. Czechoslovakia (Jaroslava Bajerova, Vlasta Dekanova, Bozena Dobesova, Vlasta Foltova,
Anna Hrebrinova, Matilda Palfiova, Zdenka Vermirovska, Marie Vetrovska)
London 1948
Czechoslovakia
MAG: Team competition: 6. Czechoslovakia (Zdenek
Ruzicka, Pavel Benetka, Vladimir Karas, Leo
Sotornik, Frantisek Wirt,Miloslav Malek)
All - around: 7. Zdenek Ruzicka, 23. Pavel Benetka,
25. Miloslav Malek, 48. Vladimir Karas, 50. Leo
Sotornik
Rings: 3. Zdenek Ruzicka, 6. Vladimir Karas Floor exercise: 3. Zdenek Ruzicka, 6. - 7. Leo Sotornik, Pavel Benetka Vault: 3. - 5. Leo Sotornik
WAG: Team competition: 1. Czechoslovakia (Zdenka Honsova, Miloslava Misakova, Vera Ruzickova, Bozena Srncova, Milena Mullerova, Zdenka Vermirovska, Olga Silhanova, Marie Kovarova)_
Helsinki 1952
MAG: Team competition: 7. Czechoslovakia All - around: 13. Danis Ferdinand , 30. Zdenek Ruzicka, 37. Josef Svoboda, 41. Leo Sotornik, 44. Josef Skvor, 45. Jindrich Mikulec, 54. Vladimir Kejr, 63. Milos Kolejka
WAG: Team competition: 3. Czechoslovakia All -around: 14. Eva Vechtova, 20. Elena Chadimova, 21. Jana Rabasova, 22. Bozena Srncova, 31. Hana Bobkova, 33. Matylda Sinova, 34. Vera Vancurova, 47. Alena Reichova
Melbourne 1956 Czechoslovakia
MAG: Team competition: 4. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 13. Ferdinand Danis, 18. Josef Skvor,
23. Vladimir Kejr, 26. Zdenek Ruzicka, 27. - 28.
Jaroslav Mikoska, 36. Jaroslav Bim
Floor exercise: 6. Ferdinad Danis
Pommel horse: 4.Josef Skvor, 6. Jaroslav Bim
WAG: Team competition: 7. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 7. Eva Bosakova, 11. Anna Marejkova,
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25. Matylda Sinova, 31. Vera Drazdikova 39. Alena Reichova, 40. Miroslava Brdickova Beam: 2. - 3. Eva Bosakova, 4. - 5. Anna Marejkova Uneven bars: 4. Eva Bosakova Floor exercise: 4. - 6. Eva Bosakova
Roma 1960
Czechoslovakia
MAG: Team competition: 4. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 15. Ferdinand Danis, 18. Jaroslav
Stastny, 23. Jaroslav Bim, 28. Pavel Gajdos
33. Josef Trmal, 54. Ladislav Pazdera
Floor exercise: 6. Jaroslav Stastny
WAG: Team competition: 2. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 8. Vera Caslavska, 10. Eva Bosakova,
13. Ludmila Svedova, 14. Adolfina Tacova
24. Matylda Matouskova - Sinova, 31. Hana
Ruzickova
Floor exercise: 4. Eva Bosakova Beam: 1. Eva Bosakova, 6. Vera Caslavska Vault: 4. Adolfina Tacova
Tokyo 1964
Czechoslovakia
MAG: Team competition: 6. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 30. Bohumil Mudrik, 42. Ladislav
Pazdera, 43. Vaclav Kubicka, 45. Karel Klecka
52. Premysl Krbec, 106. Pavel Gajdos
WAG: Team competition: 2. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 1. Vera Caslavska, 5. Hana Ruzickova,
11. Jaroslava Sedlackova, 16. Adolfina Tkacikova
22. Mariana Krajcirova, 23. Jana Posnerova
Vault: 1. Vera Caslavska
Beam: 1. Vera Caslavska, 5. Hana Ruzickova
Uneven bars: 5. Vera Caslavska
Floor exercise: 6. Vera Caslavska
MAG: Team competition: 4. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 19. Vaclav Kubicka, 2O. Jiri Fejtek, 22.
Frantisek Bocko, 28. Bohumil Mudrik
37. Miloslav Netusil, 38. Vaclav Skoumal
Parallel bars: 6. Vaclav Kubicka
WAG: Team competition: 2. Czechoslovakia
Mexico 1968
City
7. 9.
Bohumila Miroslava
Czechoslovakia
All - around: l.Vera Caslavska, Rimnacova, 9. Mariana Krajcirova Sklenickova
11. Hana Liskova, 15. Jana Kubickova
Floor exercise: 1. Vera Caslavska, 5. - 6. Bohumila
Rimnacova
Beam: 2. Vera Caslavska
Parallel bars: 1. Vera Caslavska, 3. Bohumila Rimnacova, 6. Miroslava Sklenickova Vault: 1. Vera Caslavska, 4. Mariana Krajcirova Miroslava Sklenickova
6.
Munich 1972
Czechoslovakia
MAG: Team competition: 9. Czechoslovakia (Jiri Fejtek, Ladislav Morava, Pavel Stanovsky, Bohumil Mudrik, Vladislav Nehasil, Miloslav Netušil) All - around: 36. Jiri Fejtek_
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WAG: Team competition: 5. Czechoslovakia (Mariana Nemethova - Krajcirova, Zdena Dornakova, Sona Brazdova, Zdena Bujnackova, Hana Liskova, Marcela Vachova)
All - around: 12. Mariana Nemethova - Krajcirova,
24. Sona Brazdova, 27. Zdena Dornakova
29. Zdena Bujnackova, 32. Hana Liskova_
MAG: Team competition: 9. (Jan Zoulik Miloslav
Netusil, Vladislav Nehasil, Gustav Tannenberger,
Dimitrios Janulidis, Jiri Tabak)
All - around: 18. Gustav Tannenberger, 20. Jiri
Tabak, 25. Miloslav Netusil
Parallel bars: 5. Miloslav Netusil
.	^ 11 1- WAG: Team competition: 5. Czechoslovakia
Montreal 1976 Czechoslovakia	,	„ ...	T „	.
(Drahomira Smolikova, Jana Knopova, Anna
Pohludkova, Alena Cermakova, Eva Poradkova, Ingrid
Holkovicova)
All - around: 10. Anna Pohludkova, 15. Jana Knopova, 16. Ingrid Holkovicova Floor exercise: 4. Anna Pohludkova
Moscow 1980
Czechoslovakia
MAG: Team competition: 6. Czechoslovakia (Rudolf
Babiak, Josef Konecny, Miloslav Kucerik, Jan
Migdau, Jiri Tabak, Jan Zoulik)
All - around: 8. Jiri Tabak, 21. Rudolf Babiak, 25. Jan
Zoulik
Floor exercise: 4. Jiri Tabak Rings: 3. Jiri Tabak Vault: 6. Jiri Tabak
WAG: Team competition: 4. Czechoslovakia (Dana
Brydlova, Jana Labakova, Eva Mareckova, Katarina
Sarisska, Anita Sauerova, Radka Zemanova)
All - around: 10. Radka Zemanova, 11. Jana
Labakova, 12. Eva Mareckova
Floor exercise: 6. Jana Labakova
Seoul 1988	Czechoslovakia	WAG: Team competition: 7. Czechoslovakia (Iveta Polokova, Alena Drevjana, Martina Veliskova, Jana Vejrkova, Hana, Ricna, Ivona Krmelova) All - around: 17. Iveta Polokova
Barcelona 1992	Czechoslovakia	MAG: All - around: 62. Martin Modlitba, 77. Arnold Bugar
Atlanta 1996	Czech Slovakia	MAG: All - around:58. Jiri Firt WAG: All - around: 67. Gabriela Krcmarova WAG: All - around: 70. Klaudia Kinska
Sydney 2000	Czech Slovakia	WAG: All - around: 29. Jana Komrskova WAG: All - around: 59. Zuzana Sekerova
Athen 2004	Czech Slovakia	WAG: All - around: 32. Jana Komrskova WAG: All - around: 47. Zuzana Sekerova
Beijing 2008	Czech Slovakia	MAG: All - around: 93. Martin Konecny WAG: All - around: 21. Krystina Palesova WAG: All - around: 93. Ivana Kovacova
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GYMNASTICS RESULTS at WORLD CHAMIPONSHIPS 1907 - 2011
Prague 1907	MAG: Team competition: 1. Czech All - around: 1. Josef Cada, 3. Frantisek Erben, 4. Karel Stary, 6. Karel Sal, 7. Josef Seidl, 9. Bohumil Honzatko
Luxembourg 1909	MAG: Team competition: 2. Czech (Josef Cada, Frantisek Erben, Karel Stary, Ferdinand Steiner, Frantisek Markovsky, Frantisek Mracek) All - around: 2. Josef Cada, 7. Karel Stary, 9. Frantisek Erben
Torino 1911	MAG: Team competition: 1. Czech All - around: 1. Ferdinand Steiner
Paris 1913	MAG: Team competition: 1. Czech (Karel Stary, Josef Sykora, Josef Cada, Ferdinad Steiner, Douda, Prazak) All - around: 2. Karel Stary, 3. Josef Sykora, 6. Josef Cada, 9. Ferdinad Steiner
Ljubljana1922	MAG: Team competition: 1. Czechoslovakia All - around: 1. Frantisek Pechacek, 4. Miroslav Klinger, 6. Stanislav Indruch, 7. Josef Maly, 9. Miroslav Karasek, 10. Frantisek Vanecek
Lyon 1926	MAG: Team competition: 1. Czechoslovakia (Josef Effenberger, Ladislav Vacha, Jan Karafiat, Frantisek Pechacek, Bedrich Supcik, Jan Gajdos, Ladislav Riesner, Vaclav Vesely) All - around: 2. Josef Effenberger, 3. Ladislav Vacha, 4. Jan Karafiat, 5. Frantisek Pechacek
Luxembourg 1930	MAG: Team competition: 1. Czechoslovakia All - around: 2. Jan Gajdos, 3. Emanuel Loffler, 5. Ladislav Vacha Floor exercise: 2. Emanuel Loffler
Budapest 1934 MAG: Team competition: 2. Czechoslovakia (Alois Hudec, Jaroslav
Kollinger, Jan Gajdos, Jan Sladek , Emanuel Loffler, Ladislav Tikal, Jindrich Tintera, Jaroslav Baroch)
All - around: 3.Emanuel Loffler, 5. Jan Sladek, 6. Jan Gajdos Rings: 1. Alois Hudec, 3. Jaroslav Kollinger Pommel horse: 3. Jan Sladek
WAG: Team competition: 1. Czechoslovakia (Vlasta Dekanova, Zdena Vermirovska, Eleonora Hajkova- Buddeusova, Anna Hrebrinova, Vlasta Foltova, Vlasta Jaruskova, Milena Sebkova, Jaroslava Bajerova)
_All - around: 1. Vlasta Dekanova, 5. Zdena Vermirovska_
Prague 1938 MAG: Team competition: 1. Czechoslovakia (Jan Gajdos, Jan Sladek, Alois Hudec, Gustav Hruby, Jindrich Tintera, Vratislav Petracek, Emanuel Loffler, Josef Novotny)
All - around: 1. Jan Gajdos, 2. Jan Sladek, 4. Alois Hudec, 6. Gustav Hruby
Floor exercise: 1. Jan Gajdos, 2. Alois Hudec Rings: 1. Alois Hudec, 3. Vratislav Petracek High bar: 2. Alois Hudec Parallel bars: 2. Alois Hudec Pommel horse: 2. Vratislav Petracek
WAG: Team competition: 1. Czechoslovakia (Vlasta Dekanova, Zdena Vermirovska, Matilda Palfiova, Vlasta Foltova, Bozena Dobesova, Hana Nezerkova, Marie Skalova, Marie Hendrychova)
All - around: 1. Vlasta Dekanova, 2. Zdena Vermirovska, 3. Matilda Palfiova
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Roma 1954	MAG: Team competition: 5. Czechoslovakia (Zdenek Ruzicka, Jindrich
Mikulec, Vladimir Kejr, Vladimir Prorok, Josef Skvor, Jaroslav Bim, Leo Sotornik, Ferdinand Danis)
WAG: Team competition: 3. Czechoslovakia (Eva Bosakova, Alena
Chadimova, Vera Drazdikova, Zdena Liskova - Honsova,Hana
Marejkova, Alena Reichova, Vera Vancurova)
All - around: 2. Eva Bosakova, 9. Alena Chadimova
Floor exercise: 2. Eva Bosakova
Beam: 2. Eva Bosakova
_Combined exercise: 3. Czechoslovak team_
Moscow 1958 MAG: Team competition: 3. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 12. Ferdinand Danis, 20. Josef Skvor, 24. Jaroslav Bim, 29. Karel Klecka, 35. Jindrich Mikulec, 42. Pavel Gajdos
WAG: Team competition: 2. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 2. Eva Bosakova, 8. Vera Caslavska, 12. Ludmila Svedova,
14.	Anna Marejkova, 26. Matylda Matuskova, 34. Adolfina Tacova Floor exercise: 1. Eva Bosakova
Beam: 1. Eva Bosakova
_Uneven bars: 3. Eva Bosakova_
Prague 1962 MAG: Team competition: 3. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 16. Karel Klecka, 19. Jaroslav Stastny, 25. Pavel Gajdos, 31.
Vaclav Kubicka, 48. Premysl Krbec, 51. Ladislav Pazdera
Vault: 1. Premysl Krbec,
Floor exercise: 6. Jaroslav Stastny
WAG: Team competition: 2. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 2. Vera Caslavska, 4. Eva Bosakova, 13. Libuse Cmiralova,
15.	Ludmila Svedova, 21. Hana Ruzickova, 22. Adolfina Tkacikova Vault: 1. Vera Caslavska
Uneven bars: 2. Eva Bosakova, 5. Vera Caslavska Beam: 1. Eva Bosakova, 5. Vera Caslavska
_Floor exercise: 3. Vera Caslavska, 4.-5. Eva Bosakova_
Dortmund 1966 MAG: Team competition: 4. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 25. Bohumil Mudrik, 27. Vaclav Kubicka, 30. Vaclav Skoumal, 35. Jaroslav Stastny, 50. Frantisek Bocko, 76. Karel Klecka WAG: Team competition: 1. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 1. Vera Caslavska, 5. Jaroslava Sedlackova, 7. Mariana Krajcirova, 8. Jana Kubickova, 16. Bohumila Rimnacova, 18. Jindra Kostalova
Vault: 1. Vera Caslavska, 5. Mariana Krajcirova
Uneven bars: 4. Vera Caslavska
Beam: 2. Vera Caslavska, 6. Jaroslava Sedlackova
_Floor exercise: 2. Vera Caslavska, 5. Jana Kubickova_
Ljubljana 1970 MAG: Team competition: 9. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 25. Miloslav Netusil, 33. Miroslav Reizenthaler, 49. Vladislav Nehasil, 51. Ladislav Morava, 56. Bohumil Mudrik, 63. Vaclav Skoumal
WAG: Team competition: 3. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 11. Marcela Vachova, 13. Bohumila Rimnacova, 19. Sona Brazdova, 20. Mariana Nemethova, 25. Luba Krasna, 35. Hana Liskova Vault: 5. Marcela Vachova
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_Uneven bars: 4. - 5. Mariana Nemethova_
Varna 1974	MAG: Team competition: 9. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 20. Miloslav Netusil - comp.N.2, 33. Gustav Tannenberger - comp.N.2, 39. Vladislav Nehasil, 50. Jiri Tabak, 55. Pavel Stanovsky, 56. Ladislav Morava
WAG: Team competition: 5. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 14.- 15. Jana Knopova, 19. Zdena Dornakova, 21. Drahomira Smolikova, 30. Vaclava Soukupova 33. Zdena Bujnackova, Competition 1:27. -28. Bozena Perdykulova Vault: 3. Bozena Perdykulova
Strasbough 1978 MAG: Team competition: 9. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 26. Jiri Tabak, 31. Jan Migdau, 61. Josef Konecny, 66. Borivoj Koldovsky, 71.- 72 Rudolf Babiak, 76. Vladislav Nehasil Floor exercise: 8. Jiri Tabak WAG: Team competition: 6. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 6. Vera Cerna, 13. Dana Brydlova, 16. Eva Mareckova, 34. Anita Sauerova, 39. Jana Gajdosova, 41. Radka Zemanova Uneven bars: 7. Vera Cerna Beam: 5. Vera Cerna
Floor exercise: 6. Vera Cerna
Fort Worth 1979
Moscow 1981
Budapest 1983
Montreal 1985
MAG: Team competition: 10. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 25. Jiri Tabak, 31. - 32. Josef Konecny, 68. Jan Zoulik, 71. - 72. Rudolf Babiak, 93. Josef Fic, 94. Borivoj Koldovsky Vault: 6. Jiri Tabak
WAG: Team competition: 5. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 6. Vera Cerna, 10. Eva Mareckova, 14. Radka Zemanova, 33. Katka Sarisska, 38. Anita Sauerova, 50. Lanka Charvatova Beam: 1. Vera Cerna, 4. Eva Mareckova
Floor exercise: 6. Vera Cerna_
MAG: Team competition: 16. Czechoslovakia (85. Rudolf Babiak, 88. Jan Zoulik, 93. Jan Migdau, 98 Josef Konecny, 100. Peter Netrebsky, 104. Miroslav Kucerik)
WAG: Team competition: 5. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 9. Eva Mareckova, 12. Martina Polcrova, 15. - 16. Jana Labakova, 33.Jana Gajdosova, 34. Jana Rulfova, 51. Katka Sarisska
Vault: 8. Eva Mareckova_
MAG: Team competition: 14. Czechoslovakia (58. Dusan Hilbert, 65. Daniel Orlet, 77. Vladimir Brummer, 90. Ludek Hofer, 96. Vladimir Mureso, 109. Koloman Hianik) WAG: Team competition: 6. Czechoslovakia
All - around: 14. Hana Ricna, 17. Jana Labakova, 25. - 26. Martina Polcrova, 32. Iva Cervenkova, 40. - 41. Helena Martinkova, 47. Jana Gajdosova
Uneven bars: 8. Hana Ricna
Beam: 2.Hana Ricna, 5. - 7. Iva Cervenkova_
WAG: Team competition: 5. Czechoslovakia (Alena Drevjana, Miroslava Koblizkova, Jana Labakova, Lenka Pitlovicova, Iveta Polokova, Hana Ricna)_
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All - around: 8. Hana Ricna, 10. Iveta Polokova, 20. Alena Drevjana
Uneven bars: 3. Hana Ricna
Beam : 4. Iveta Polokova, 5. Hana Ricna
_Floor exercise: 6. Iveta Polokova, 8. Lenka Pitlovicova_
Rotterdam 1987 MAG: Team competition: 18. Czechoslovakia (Duzsan Hilbert, Ludek Hofer, Koloman Hianik, Jiri Hron, Janis Kasapidis, Vladimir Mures) WAG: Team competition: 11. Czechoslovakia (Jana Casteckova, Andrea and Miriam Hullova, Lenka Tichopadova, Iveta Polokova, Jana Vejrkova)
_All - around: 21. Iveta Polokova, 34. Jana Casteckova_
Stuttgart 1989 WAG: Team competition: 12. Czechoslovakia (Estera Barcova, Jana Casteckova, Alena Drevjana, Iveta Polokva, Adriana Slezakova, Martina Veliskova)
_All - around: 35. Iveta Polokova_
Indianapolis MAG: Team competition: 17. Czechoslovakia (Martin Modlidba, Tomas 1991	Tvrdy, Ludek Hofer, Jiri Hron, Arnold Sugar, Mirek Smetana)
WAG: Team competition: 14. Czechoslovakia (Iveta Polokova, Daniela Bartova, Erika Dungelova, Miroslava Jantekova, Martina Kucharcikova, Pavla Kinclova)
_All - around: 30. Iveta Polokova, 33. Daniela Bartova_
Paris 1992	MAG: Floor: 14. Martin Riesner, Vault: 16. Martin Reisner, 21. Martin
Modlidba Parallel bars: 16. Martin Modlidba, High bar: 36. Martin Modlidba
WAG: Vault: 12. Pavla Kinclova, 52. S. Kudilkova, Uneven Bars: 19. Martina Kucharcilova, Beam: 33. Pavla Kinclova, 42. S. Kudilkova,
_Floor: 41.S. Kudilkova, 49. Pavla Kinclova_
Birmingham MAG: All - around: 68. Arnold Bugar, 107. Matin Reisner,
1993	WAG: All - around: 47. Klara Kudilkova 49. Klaudia Kinska, Vault: 6.
_Klara Kudilkova_
Brisbane 1994 MAG: Czech: All - around: 26. Miroslav Smetana, 31. Tomas Tvrdy, 73.
Peter Novak, Pommel horse: 66. Milan Krejci, Rings: 17. Miroslav Smetana, 66. Peter Novak, 28. Martin Riesner, Parallel bars: 28. Miroslav Smetana, 35. Tomas Tvrdy, 53. Peter Novak, High bar: 33. Tomas Tvrdy, 36. Miroslav Smetana, Martin Reisner,
Slovakia: All - around: 58. Arnold Bugar Floor: 15. Marian Kovac Vault: 65 Marian Kovac, Parallel bars: 45. Arnold Bugar, High bar: Arnold Bugar,
WAG: Czech: All - around: 55. Pavla Kinclova, Vault: 57 Pavla Dortmund 1994 Kinclova, Uneven bars: 26. Pavla Kinclova, Beam: 14. Pavla Kinclova, Floor: 61: Pavla Kinclova
Slovakia: All - around: 41. Martina Kucharcikova, 48. Klaudia Kinska, Vault: 12. Klaudia Kinska, Uneven bars: 34. Martina Kucharcikova, Beam: 17. Klaudia Kinska, 28. Martina Kucharcikova, Floor: 34. Klaudi Kinska, 47. Martina Kucharcikova
_MAG: 18. Czech_
Sabae 1995	MAG: Czech: Team competition: 19. (133. Martin Reisner, 134. Peter
Novak, 154. Milan Krejci, 158. Pavel Lakomy, 178. David Splika, 187. Tomas Tvrdy)
Slovakia: All - around: 90. Marian Kovac, 110. Peter Kistof, WAG: Czech: Team: 25. All - around: 83. Gabriella Krcmarova, 86. Pavla Kinclova, 100. Katerina Binova, 133. Katerina Fialova, 146. Klara _Slavikova, 169. Martina Binova, 194. Milana Novotna_
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Slovakia: All - around: 76: Martina Kucharchikova, 78. Klaudia
_Kinska, 114. Silvia Vlckova_
Puerto Rico 1996
Laussane 1997 MAG: Czech: Team competition: 19. (52. Jiri Firt, 93. David Splika, 156.Peter Novak, 159. Jiri Veska, 186. Vit Kaspar, 192. Daniel Rexa)
Slovakia: Team competition 29. (85. Marian Kovac, 86. Stanislav Micheller, 90. Peter Kristof, 105. Necli Andrej, 202. Daniel Kamenicky, 234. Peter. Nahly)
WAG: Czech: All - around: 86. Darina Stastna, 87. Silvie Hejlikova,
Slovakia: Team competition: 17. (52. Adriana Tonckova, 90. Henri eta Kurasova, Lubica, Bohmerova, 99. Anna Mesarinkova, 131. Monika Krivdova, 149. Maria Kracova)
Tianjin 1999 MAG: Czech: Team competition: 32. (81. Jiri Firt, 96. Lubomir Matera, 204. Daniel Rexa, 215. Jan Smejkal, 219. Vit Kaspar, 273 Peter Novak)
Slovakia: Team competition: 26. (77. Andrej Necli, 106. Stanislav Micheller, 199. Marian Kovac, 212. Jan Petrovic, 242. Daniel Kamenicky, 249. Peter Kristof)
WAG: Czech: Team competition: 16. (33. Jana Komrskova, 60. Katerina Marsova, 72. Pavla Feresova, 85. Olga Svoboda, 231. Lenka Nedlova, 243. Darina Stastna)
Slovakia: Team competition: 24. (52. Zusana Sekerova, 55. Veronika Adamska, 100. Adriana Tonkovicova, 125. Anna Mesarkinova,
_147. Eva Sevcova,_
Ghent 2001	MAG: Czech: Team competition: 24. (65. Martin Konecny, 95. Martin
Vlk, 100. Daniel Rexa, 162. David Vyoral, 222. David Spilka, 236. Matera Lubomir)
Slovakia: Team competition 20. (54. Alexander Benko, 75. Andrej Necli, 101. Samuel Piasecky, 108. Jan Petrovic, 232. Peter Kristof, 267. Pavel Mikos)
WAG: Czech: Team competition:17. (57. Jana Komrskova, 82. Michaela Radkova, 134. Katerina Maresova, 135. Nela Kuncova, 137. Suzana Obonova, Katerina Panyrkova)
Slovakia: Team competition: 16. (55. Suzana Sekerova, 62. Veronika Adamska, 66. Monika Kvankova, 79.Dobroslava Lehtska,
_111. Jana Drabikova)_
Debrecen 2002 MAG: Czech: Floor: 24. David Vyoral, 32. Martin Konecny, Rings: 52. Vladimir Novotny, High bar: 28. Martin Konecny,
Slovakia: Floor: 52. Aleksander Benko Pommel horse: 36. Samuel Piasecky, 60. Aleksander Benko Rings: 35. Jan Petrovic, Parallel bars: 36. Samuel Piasecky,
WAG: Czech: Vault: 13. Jana Komrskova, Uneven bars: 9. Jana
_Komrskova, Beam: 28. Jana Komrskova,_
Anahaim 2003 MAG: Czech: Team competition: 28. (70. Martin Konecny, 107. Jiri Firt, 114. Martin Vlk, 212. Daniel Rexa, 265. Petr Smejkal, 285. David Vyoral) Slovakia: Team competition: 29. (65. Samuel Piasecky, 80. Jan Petrovic, 81. Aleksander Benko, 201. Andrej Necli, 217. Pavel Mikus, 311. Stanislav Micheller)
WAG: Czech: Team competition: 22. (50. Jana Komrskova, 76. Katerina _Maresova, 84. Veronika Ozanova, 87. Jana Sikulova, 180. Michaela
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Rakova, 223. Petra Sulcova)
Slovakia: Team competition: 27. (74. Veronika Adamska, 78. Suzana Sekerova, 116. Jana Luptakova, 136. Maria Homolova, 186. Jana Drabikova, 220. Petra Mudrakova)
Melbourne2005 MAG: Czech: All - around: 27. Martin Konecny, 36. Daniel Rexa, 166. David Vyoral
Slovakia: All - around: 75. Samuel Piasecky, WAG: Czech: All - around: 37. Katerina Maresova, 87. Jana Sikulova
Slovakia: All - around: 50. Suzana Sekerova, 77. Veronika
_Adamska_
Aarhus 2006 MAG: Czech: Team competition: 39. (104. Michael Boltnar, 108. Martin Vlak, 115. Petr Smejkal, 188. Martin Ruzicka, 238. Daniel Rexa, 251. David Vyoral)
Slovakia: All - around: 73. Samuel Piasecky WAG: Czech: Team competition: 20. (32. Jana Komrskova, 74. Jana Sikulova, 166. Martina Strnadova, 170. Adela Pavoukova, 171. Nicole Pechancova, 172. Veronika Ozanova)
Slovakia: All - around: 108. Natalia Paulickova, 109. Martina
_Homolova_
Stuttgart 2007 MAG: Czech: All - around: 42. Martin Konecny, 115. Petr Smejkal, 249: David Vyoral
Slovakia: All - around: 79. Samuel Piasecky WAG: Czech: Team competition: 16. (20. Kristina Palesova, 26. Jana Komrskova, 52. Jana Sikulova, 54. Nicole Pechancova, 203.Martina Strnadova, 205. Eva Verbova) Vault: 7. Jana Komrskova
Slovakia: All - around: 85. Ivana Kovacova, 98. Maria
_Homolova, 100. Natalia Paulickova_
London 2009 MAG: Czech: All - around: 110. Martin Konecny,
WAG: Czech: All - around: 50. Eva Verbova, 102. Jana Komrskova, 142. Jana Sikulova
_Slovakia: All - around: 112. Ivana Kovacova,_
Rotterdam 2010 MAG: Czech: Team competition: 36. (67. Martin Konecny, 96. Petr Smejkal, 112. Michal Boltnar, 207. Jiri Vesely, 267. Jindrich Pansky, 278. Jiri Bomer)
Slovakia: All - around: 53. Samuel Piasecky WAG: Czech: Team competition: 30. (70. Jana Sikulova, 102. Nicole Pechancova, 134. Alice Janova,172. Klara Hadrbolcova, 207. Marcela Molackova)
_Slovakia: All - around: 79. Maria Homolova,_
Tokyo 2011	MAG: Czech: All - around: 78 Martin Konecny, 261. Petr Smejkal
Slovakia: All - around: 77. Samuel Piasecky, 127. Stano Michnak WAG: Czech: All - around: 58. Kristina Palesova, 214. Jana Sikulova _Slovakia: All - around: 83. Maria Homolova,_
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Outstanding personalities in FIG from Czechoslovakia, Czech and Slovak Republic
Josef Scheiner
Treasurer in 1920. In 1921 he proposed the new name of International Gymnastics Federation /FIG/ after the United States of America had joined. He was Vice-President FIG from 1924 to 1932.
Vladimir Muller
FIG treasurer 1932 - 1952
Miroslav Klinger
Vice - Chairman of the Executive Commission /after become the MTC/in 1932. President in 1949 - 1950. Author of a very lucid history and criticism of FIG. Ardent partisan of the Slav and Sokol contribution to the International Federation. He was the great gymnast and a very good coach of the Czechoslovak men team. He participated at OG 1920 , 4th place with CSR team, at WCh 1922 -1st place with team CSR and at OG 1924, 5th place in all - around competition.
Maria Provaznikova
Marie Provaznikova in the 1934 together with Countess Jadwiga Zamoyska laid the foundation for establishing an independent Women's Technical Committee of which she eventually to be president. In 1935 - 1938 she was a Vice-president of Women's Technical Committee FIGIn 1946 - 1948 she was President of the Women's Technical Committee FIG. At the Olympic games in London 1948 she was a delegate to the Congress of the FIG and in her capacity as president of the Women's Technical Committee became chief organizer of the women's gymnastic competition. Contributed to specific events with suitable female exercises. She did not agree with communist resim in Czechoslovakia after February 1948 so for this reason she emigrated immediately from OG in London 1948 to the USA. In USA she was as teacher in schools and worked in Sokol's unit and she died at January 11th 1991 in city Schenectady._
Eleonora Buddeusova - Hajkova
Eleonora Buddeussova was a member of Women's Technical Committee FIG in period 1946 - 1948 and in 1947 - 1948 she was as president. She also was a very good gymnast and participated at WCh 1934 where with CSR team took 1st place._
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Alex Lylo	Alex Lylo was a member of the Men's
	Technical Committee FIG in period 1960 -
	1984. In period 1976 - 1984 he was
	president of MTC FIG. He was also good
	gymnast and a very good coach of the CSR
	men team special at WCh 1954 and at WCh
	1958 etc.
Jaroslava Matlochova	Jaroslava Matlochova was a member of the
	Women's Technical Committee FIG in a
	period 1976 - 1988. She also was a very
	good coach of the CSR women team in 60 -
	ties and achieved great success at WCh 1962,
	1966-wolrd champion and at OG 1964, 1968
	. Mrs. Matlochova with hasband Vit
	Matlocha was many years in Italy.
Vera Cerna	Mrs. Cerna was a member of Technical
	Committee of Rhythmic gymnastics in
	period 1967 - 1984.
Jan Novak	Mr. Novak is member of FIG Council from
	2000 till now. He is also from 1990 till now
	/2012/ a president of the Slovak gymnastics
	federation .
Monika Siskova	Mrs. Siskova is from 2004 member of the
	FIG Gymnastics for all Committee. Mrs.
	Siskova is from 1996 general secretary of the
	Slovak gymnastics federation.
Ladislav Zeman	FIG Trampoline TC member
Czeczh and Slovak gymnasts who introduced new elements (by Gotze, Uhr 1994)	
Emanuel Löffler	Floor: two circles
Jiri Tabak	Floor: jump backward with half turn and
	double salto forward tucked
Prazak	Rings: cross hold
Ferdinand Steiner	Rings: inverted cross
Josef Cada	Parallel bars: czechkehre
Vaclav Skoumal	High bar: giant swing backward with
	inlocation during swing and dislocate to
	handstand
	High bar: Czech giant - giant backward in
	back hang
Pardubski	High bar: salto forward stretched
Vera Caslavska	Uneven bars: from front support on HB -
	swing bwd with release and 1/1 turn (360°)
	to hang on HB
Hana Ricna	Uneven bars: Stalder bwd on HB with
	counter straddle -reverse hecht over HB to
	hang
Vera Cerna	Uneven bars: Stalder
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Jana Rulfova	Balance beam: flic -flac with 1/1 twist (360°)
	- swing down to cross straddle sit
Eva Bosakova	Balance beam: round off
Vera Caslavska	Balance beam: handspring forward
Radka Zemanova	Balance beam: handspring backward in
	sideposition
Klara Kudilkova	Balance beam: leap fwd with leg change
	and H
	turn (90°) to side split (180°)
Eva Bosakova	Balance beam: dismount: free (aerial)
	walkover fwd
	with twist
Vera Caslavska	Balance beam: dismount: round off, salto
	backward tucked
	BB dismount: round off, salto backward with
	1/1 turn
Iva Cervenkova	Balance beam: dismount: salto backward
	stretched with 3/1 turns
Zdenka Bujnackova	Floor: salto backward stretched with 2/1
	turns
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Conslusion
Gymnastics in Slavic countries started in 1862 with Sokol club in Prague. Leader Miroslav Tyrs made strong organisation within Austro Hungary imperia, which competed also at Olympic Games under Bohemia name. After World War I Czech and Slovak nations joint in new state Czechoslovakia. Time between world wars was most succesfull time with many gold medals at Olympic games and Word Championships. After the second world war communist party took a leading role in gymnastics development with higlight on women gymnastics side, Vera Caslavska is the best athlete of this time. After velvet revolution Czechoslovakia split into two countries Czech and Slovakia. Gymnastics tradition continues again under Sokol brand name.
References
Bednar, K. (1987). The Pan - Sokol Slets. Gymnastics Festivals in Prague from 1882 - 1948. The XX.Slet, Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol USA.
Dusek, P. P. (1981). Marie Provaznik: Her life and contributions to Physical Education. College of Health the University of Utah. /a dissertation/.
Championship Championship Championship Championship Championship Championship Championship Championship Championship
FIG.	(2001).	World
results.		
FIG.	(2002).	World
results.		
FIG.	(2003).	World
results.		
FIG.	(2005).	World
results.		
FIG.	(2006).	World
results.		
FIG.	(2007).	World
results.		
FIG.	(2009).	World
results.		
FIG.	(2010).	World
results.		
FIG.	(2011).	World
results.		
Gajdos, A. (1983). Préparation et entrainement â la gymnastique sportive. Paris: Amphora.
Gajdos, A., Jasek Z.(1988). Sportova gymnastika. Historia a sučasnost. Bratislava: Sport.
Gajdos, A. (1997). Artistic gymnastics. A history of development and Olympic competition. Louborough: British Amateur Gymnastics Association Limited, Louborough University.
Gotze, A., Uhr, J. (1994). Mond Salto (Die Grosen Erfinder). Nordlingen: Gym books.
Huguenin, A. (1981). 100 Years of the International Gymnastics Federation 18811981. FIG: Moutier.
Jelinek, J. (1921). Sokol na Slovensku 1918 - 1921.
Krsak, P (1982). Novoveké olympiâdy. Bratislava: Sport.
Novotny, L. (1960). Olympijské hry a gymnastika. Sportovni gymnastika, čast' 1 -7.
Provaznikova, M. (1962): Historical Perspective of the Sokol in Czechoslovakia. Exeprts from "One Hundred Years of Sokol".
The XX. Slet Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol,USA, 1987.
Štukelj L. (1989). Mojih sedem svetovnih tekmovanj [My seven world competitions]. Novo mesto: Dolenjska založba.
Wallechinsky D. (2004). The Complete book of the Olympics. London: Aurum Press.
All figures are from Anton Gajdoš private archive.
Coresponding author: Ph.D. Anton Gajdoš Bratislava
anton.gaj dos@gmail .com
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