Women's Gymnastics a History: Volume 1 1966 To 1974 [Hardcover]

Minot Simons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1996

This beautifully illustrated book is a celebration of the rich heritage of women's gymnastics during the period 1966 to 1974, when the older gymnasts of former times gave way to a younger generation which brought with them a more dynamic approach to the sport.

First in a series of four volumes which will describe the history of women's gymnastics through 1996 (the present time), Volume I contains 82 color and 95 black and white photographs for a total of 177 pictures. Volume I covers the Mexico and Munich Olympics and the World and European Championships of the period. There is also a brief mention of other lesser competitions.

Of equal importance are the biographies of the leading gymnasts. These will enable gymnasts of today and tomorrow to know what went on in the minds of their famous forbears.

In addition, 82 routines are described as part of the narrative. These are illustrated by 84 diagrams taken from the official "Code of Points." For gymnasts, coaches, judges and anyone who answers "women's gymnastics" when asked, "what is your favorite sport?" this is your book!

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

Never in my 30-year involvement with the sport have I come across a single more complete account of women's gymnastics. Minot Simons' encyclopedic approach provides readers with more than they ever wanted to know about top-level international gymnastics. From world and Olympic results to revealing interviews with many top personalities, Women's Gymnastics a History is a seven course feast for the gymnastics lover.

From The New Yorker

I have always felt it a shame that many young gymnasts in this country are unaware of our sport and its athletes. My belief is that to fully appreciate where we are, it's important to know whence we came. Women's Gymnastics a History is a remarkable compilation of statistics, photos and stories, combined in such a way as to really give us a feeling of how it used to be and who the people are who made gymnastics what it is today. As a gymnastics commentator, I'm sure it will be a great reference book.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 403 pages
• Publisher: Welwyn Pub Co; 1st edition (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964606208
• ISBN-13: 978-0964606203
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #659,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes!!!!!!!!!!!, December 4, 2002

By 

Celeste M. Harmer (Clifton Heights, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Women's Gymnastics a History: Volume 1 1966 To 1974 (Hardcover)

For all you fans of women's gymnastics, this is the book you have been waiting for! It leaves no stone unturned in the gymnastics happenings between 1966-1974. We see the descriptions, both in word and in Code of Points illustrations, of the routines performed by famous gymnasts such as Caslavska, Tourisheva, Rigby, Korbut, Zuchold, Janz, and many others. The pictures are terrific! So are the bio's.

This book takes you back to the glory days when women's gymnastics was performed by WOMEN, not by anorexic teenaged dwarves. In fact, it inspired me to resume gymnastics after an 18-year hiautus!

I got in touch recently with Mr. Simons, the author, to order Volume II, but it has not yet been released. Please do so immediately, sir!! So many people are waiting eagerly for it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ought to be on the shelves of every bookstore in the country, April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Women's Gymnastics a History: Volume 1 1966 To 1974 (Hardcover)

What an extraordinary book! Anyone with any interest in gymnastics NEEDS this book! I've always been saddened by the lack of any good books about gymnastics for adults (why do publishers think that only ten-year-olds want to read about this sport?) but now Marc has done something to set this right. I couldn't put it down from the moment it arrived--the photos alone make the book worthwhile, but the historical information is also amazing--this is a gripping read for anybody interested in the summer olympics or the history of sport in the days of the Iron Curtain. I can't recommend it enough.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Fabulous!!!, October 15, 2002

By 

Catherine Cliff "triplelutz" (Utopia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women's Gymnastics a History: Volume 1 1966 To 1974 (Hardcover)

The most wonderful women's gymnastics book written.
I have been waiting for a long time for volume II, and that is the ONLY dissapointing thing about this book. Worth every cent.
Mr. Simons----please put out Volume II soon!!!!