THE HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PARALLEL BARS

The parallel bars are an essential part of artistic gymnastics, as evidenced by their inclusion in the core Olympic disciplines of men's and women's gymnastics. This article looks at the origins and development of the men's gymnastics apparatus – the parallel bars. The late 18th and early 19th centuries, during the rise of the German gymnastics system, are seen as key periods for its development. The article provides a detailed insight into the conditions and social events that played a decisive role in the emergence of parallel bars. It also sheds light on the key figures involved in the construction of the parallel bars, focusing on historical developments, structural improvements and innovations that have made the parallel bars an integral part of elite men's gymnastics competitions today. As far as the methodology used in this manuscript is concerned, the authors have adhered to the standard methods of historical research. The authors' main focus was on collecting relevant material on the subject. The authors conscientiously searched for primary sources, including books, scientific articles and digitised documents. These facts were classified by the authors and their relationships were analysed using the comparative method. Based on the analysis of this information, the authors prepared the manuscript.