Gymnastics can be counted as one of the oldest Olympic sports. Medals have been awarded to the best ‘gymnasts’ at all Olympic Games since 1896.
China has had great success at gymnastics in the Olympic Games. The games held in Sydney in 2000 was one of China’s most successful years, as China won three gold medals as well as silver and bronze. In contrary to this, the team’s performance in Athens 2004 was rather disappointing, though some Chinese considered this more to be a preparation for the Olympic Games 2008 in their own country.

China took first place at the Asian Games in Doha 2006 winning 316 medals (including 165 gold medals). This successful ‘warm up’ for the Olympic Games 2008 caused euphoria amongst the Chinese people. The fantastic Chinese gymnasts won 11 gold medals. They were by far the best. It is hoped that the ‘Doha-euphoria’ will repeat itself in Beijing 2008. 

Yang Wei has been without any doubt the star amongst the men in the sports hall in Doha. He won four gold medals, showing breath-taking strength in his upper body and unbelievable agility. In addition he won as member of the Chinese team a further team gold medal. Until now, Yang Wei has won 11 Asian medals in total (eight times gold), thus having caught up with the all-time-record.

The women too were very successful in Doha. With the exception of one gold medal, which was awarded to South Korea, the Chinese women have won in all of the other gymnastics competitions. Eighteen year old world champion Cheng Fei even obtained three gold medals.

This is a strong sign to the world, meaning that indeed something is to be expected from the Chinese team in 2008. However, competition from USA, Russia and East European states will present a strong challenge. Thus, China has to continue in giving all that is has in order to show the world in 2008 that it is the leader in gymnastics.

List of previous successes at the Olympic Games in Gymnastics:

Athens 2004:

Men's Events:
Li Xiaopeng: bronze in Parallel bars
Teng Haibin: gold in Side horse vaulting

Women's Events:
Zhang Nan: bronze in Individual all-round Women
Huang Shanshan: bronze in Individual Trampoline Women

Sydney 2000:

Men's Events:
Huang Xu: gold in Team competition
Li Xiaopeng: gold in Parallel bars and in Team competition
Xiao Junfeng: gold in Team competition
Xing Aowai: gold in Team competition
Yang Wei: gold in Team competition and silver in Individual all-round
Zheng Lihui: gold in Team competition

Women's Events:
Dong Fangxiao: bronze in Team competition
Huang Mandan: bronze in Team competition
Kui YuanYuan: bronze in Team competition
Ling Jie: silver in Uneven bars and bronze in Team competition
Liu Xuan: gold in Balance beam, bronze in Individual all-round and bronze in Team competition
Yang Yun: bronze in Uneven bars and bronze in Team competition

Atlanta 1996:

Men's Events:
Fan  Bin: silver in Team competition and bronze in Horizontal bar
Fan Hongbin: silver in Team competition
Huan Liping: silver in Team competition
Huan Huadong: silver in Team competition
Li Xiaoshuang: gold in Individual all-round, silver in Floor exercises and silver in Team competition
Shen Jian: silver in Team competition
Zhang Jingjin: silver in Team competition

Women's Events:
Bi Wenjing: silver in Uneven bars
Moceanu Huilan: silver in Horse vault

Barcelona 1992:

Men's Events:
Guo Linyao: silver in Team competition and bronze in Parallel bars
Li Chunyang: silver in Team competition
Li Dashuang: silver in Team competition
Li Ge: silver in Team competition
Li Jing: silver in Parallel bars, silver in Team competition and silver in Wrestling
Li Xiaozhuang: gold in Floor exercises, silver in Team competition and bronze in Wrestling

Women's Events:
Lu Li: gold in Uneven bars and silver in Parallel beam