The word gymnastics traces its origin to the Greek “gymnasia,” an area in Greek cities for running and jumping. Today, thousands of studios across the world hold classes where children and adults are taught the basics of the sport. Coaches teach the essentials of the sport to children as young as 3 years old. Advanced workouts are held for older students.

By far, gymnastics vaults into the spotlight every four years, when the Olympic Games present the sport on an international stage. Men's gymnastics events were included in the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. Women's gymnastics made its Olympic debut in 1928 in Amsterdam.

Today, Olympic gold is gymnastics' holy grail. During the Olympics and other international competitions, men and women compete in different events. Women's gymnastics consists of the vault, the uneven bars, the balance beam and a floor exercise routine. Men compete on the pommel horse, the hanging rings, the vault, the parallel bars, the high bar and the floor exercise.

Whether it's men's or women's gymnastics, the grace, power and agility on display by the athletes draws the attention and wonder of spectators. Making the body twist, turn, flip and fly captures our attention and makes us gasp in wonder. That's the essence of gymnastics: gymnasts use physical strength and coordination to do what seems improbable.