1960 – Chris Evans Discovers Gymnastics

Chris Evans had never seen or competed in gymnastics before arriving at Arizona State University. A friend invited him to give gymnastics a try in the fall of 1960. He started with the rope climb event. Despite this late start, he quickly developed into an elite athlete, setting the stage for a historic collegiate career.

More about the Rope Climb Event:

The rope climb event was discontinued in NCAA gymnastics competitions in the early 1960s, likely by 1963. 

Here’s a more detailed explanation:
  • Olympic History:
    Rope climbing was an Olympic event in 1896, 1904, 1924, and 1932, but was removed from the Olympic program after the 1932 games. 

  • AAU and NCAA:
    In the United States, the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) sanctioned competitive climbing on both 20-foot and 25-foot ropes until the early 1960s. 

  • Discontinuation:
    By 1963, both the 20-foot and 25-foot competitions had been discontinued in the AAU, and likely in the NCAA as well. 

  • Reasons for Discontinuation:
    Some sources suggest that the timing of the event (judged by stopwatches) and the fact that it was seen as a “track and field” activity, rather than an artistic one like other gymnastic events, contributed to its demise. 
1960 – Chris Evans Discovers Gymnastics