GAJDOŠ A.: SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES XXXI Vol. 16 Issue 3: 536-538 Science of Gymnastics Journal 536 Science of Gymnastics Journal SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES XXXI Anton Gajdoš, Bratislava, Slovakia Ivan Čuk, Ljubljana, Slovenia Ph.D. Anton Gajdoš, born on 1 June1940 in Dubriniči (now Ukraine) has lived most of his life in Bratislava (ex TCH, now SVK). He comes from family of gymnasts (his brother Pavel has world championship medals) and has dedicated his life to gymnastics. His latest achievement is the founding of the Narodna encyklopedia športu Slovenska (www.sportency.sk). One of his passions is collecting photos and signatures of gymnasts. As we tend to forget old champions and important gymnasts, judges and coaches, we have decided to publish a part of his archive under the title Short historical notes. All the information on these pages comes from Anton’s archive and has been collected over the years. PETER ŠUMI (Kranj 29 June 1895 – Wienna 21 May 1981) - the most versatile Slovenian athlete Portrait of Peter Šumi, made by Jože Primožič (another world champion in gymnastics) in 1981 (Republica Slovenia Archive AS 641) GAJDOŠ A.: SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES XXXI Vol. 16 Issue 3: 536-538 Science of Gymnastics Journal 537 Science of Gymnastics Journal From the 1st World Gymnastics Championships in 1903 to the 12th World Championships in 1950, not only apparatus disciplines were important, but also track and fild disciplines, swimming, weightlifting and rope climbing. Gymnasts at that time were truly all-around sportsmen’s as they competed in athletics and swimming in addition to artistic gymnastics disciplines, and their skills and knowledge can be described as the best sportsmen of all time, as no sport today has such complex requirements. Peter Šumi held the title of the world's best gymnast for eight years with two consecutive victories in the all-around. Although he also excelled on the apparatus, he never competed in the Olympic Games, but he judged gymnastics at the Games in Paris 1924, Amsterdam in 1928 and Berlin in 1936. Considering all his achievements during his competitive period, he is considered the most versatile Slovenian athlete of all time. Achievements at the World Championships: 1922 SP LJUBLJANA first place: all-around, rings, horizontal bar, high jump, swimming second place: team, pommel horse third place: 100m run, floor exercise Evaluation of the non-artistic gymnastics disciplines High jump: 1 m 65 cm, 10 points (in 1920 at OG Olympic champion Richmond Landon, USA won with 193 cm) Shot put: 9 m, 10 points (in 1920 at OG, Olympic champion Ville Porhola, Finland, won with 14,81 m) Swimming 50 metres: 44 seconds,10 points (in 1922 the world record for 100 metres was 58,6 seconds by Johnny Weismuller, USA) Run 100 metres: 12 seconds, 10 points (in 1920 at OG Olympic champion Charley Paddock, USA won with 10.8 s) High jump technique at the 1922 World Championships (Archive Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) GAJDOŠ A.: SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES XXXI Vol. 16 Issue 3: 536-538 Science of Gymnastics Journal 538 Science of Gymnastics Journal 1926 SP LYON first place: all-around, rope climbing, second place: team third place: floor exercise, swimming Evaluation of the non-artistic gymnastics disciplines Rope climbing 8 m (arms only in L-sit): 8 seconds, 15 points (in 1924 at OG Olympic champion Karel Šupčik, TCH won with 7,2 s) Swimming 50 m: 36 seconds, 15 points 1930 SP LUXEMBOURG second place: pommel horse third place: pommel horse, team Peter Šumi held the title of the world's best gymnast for eight years with two consecutive victories in the all-around. Although he was also excellent on apparatus, he never competed in the Olympic Games, but he judged gymnastics at the Games in Paris in 1924, Amsterdam in 1928 and Berlin in 1936. Considering all his achievements during his competitive period, he is considered the most versatile Slovenian athlete of all time.