JAHN WAS KNOWN IN GERMANY AS “TURNVATER”, WHICH MEANS, LOOSELY, “FATHER OF GYMNASTICS”. I N ANCIENT Greece, where the gymnasium was a workshop for the development of various Grecian ideas and ideals, gymnastics (from the verb gymnazo, meaning “to train naked”) was an all-encompassing activity, incorporating swimming, weightlifting, running, various throwing activities like discus, wrestling, hand-to-hand combat and other rigorous routines. You could argue that gymnastics was another word for sport.
Later, after conquering the Grecian empire, the Romans adapted these activities to the preparation of soldiers for war, but in 393 AD, the emperor Theodosius banned all gymnastic practice – and the original Olympic Games – on the pretext that it was all becoming way too corrupt. In fact, like any self-respecting dictator, Theo, jealous of the revered stars…
