1931 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

1931 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
Location	Paris, France
←  1930 1934  →

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the International Federation of Gymnastics which was founded in 1881, a commemorative competition was held in Paris, on July 11 & 12, in conjunction with that year's Bastille Day. ^[1]

There seems to be a history of inconsistency from the FIG regarding whether these 1931 games are considered to be a World Championships. About these games, it is written in a 100-year Anniversary publication, that Following "agreements, objections, and discussions" this manifestation was called "World Championships"., ^{[1] : 84} however on the following page of that same publication, it is stated "Logically, the manifestations of the 50th anniversary of the FIG cannot be placed among the official competitions",. ^{[1] : 85} Additionally, in a 125-year Anniversary Publication, it is said about these games "Premiers concours sous l’appellation Championnats du Monde de Gymnastique artistique masculine a Paris.", ^[2] yet they were referred to as "unofficial" ^{[2] : 35} and their results were omitted from the results section of that book. ^{[2] : 64} As it currently stands (as of as recently as 2021), about these games in 1931, the FIG states “1931 First Artistic Men's World Championships held in Paris.” ^[3]

44 individuals from 10 nations participated in this competition. 14 events were contested. Individual rankings were determined. ^{[1] : 84}

Men's individual all around

Rankings

Ranking	Country	Gymnast	Score
1	Finland	Heikki Savoleinen	185.000
2	Czechoslovakia	Alois Hudec	183.626
3	Czechoslovakia	Jan Gajdoš	183.233
4	France	Georges Leroux	179.655
5	Italy	Romeo Neri	177.763
6	Switzerland	Hermann Hänggi	176.916
7	Hungary	István Pelle	176.715
8	Switzerland	Georges Miez	176.546
9	Yugoslavia	Josip Primožič	175.880
10	Yugoslavia	Leon Štukelj	175.509
11	Czechoslovakia	Jindřich Tintěra	173.560
12	Switzerland	?? Büllmann	170.495
13	Czechoslovakia	Ladislav Tikal	170.023
14	Czechoslovakia	Bedrich Supcik	169.55
15	Switzerland	Josef (?) Walter	169.44
16	Yugoslavia	Peter Šumi	168.55
17	Yugoslavia	Boris Gregorka	166.93
18	Luxembourg	Mathias Logelin	16?.??
19	France or Algeria???	? Rizo	162.86
20	Yugoslavia	Miroslav Forte	161.69
21	Netherlands	Pieter (?) van Dam	159.09

^{[4] [5] [6]}

Medalists

There was a special clause to the rules that in order for any individual to be properly termed 'World Champion', they had to demonstrate a certain level of competency among all 14 events, scoring at least 60% of all of the points that could be possibly awarded on each event. Therefore, the highest-ranking gymnast, Heikki Savolainen of Finland did not actually end up becoming World Champion; rather, 2nd-place finishing Alois Hudec of Czechoslovakia, who was the only individual to score at least 60% on all 14 events, ended up becoming 'World Champion' at this competition. ^[7]

Medal	Country	Gymnast
	Czechoslovakia	Alois Hudec

Men's floor exercise

Medal	Country	Gymnast
	Czechoslovakia	Alois Hudec

Men's rings

Medal	Country	Gymnast
	Czechoslovakia	Alois Hudec

Men's vault

Medal	Country	Gymnast
	Switzerland	Hermann Hänggi

Men's parallel bars

Medal	Country	Gymnast
	Hungary	István Pelle

Men's horizontal bar

Medal	Country	Gymnast
	Finland	Heikki Savolainen

References

1. Huguenin, Andre. 100 Years of the International Gymnastics Federation: 1881-1981 (PDF). Translated by Unger, Beatrice. International Gymnastics Federation. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
2. Grandi, Bruno (ed.). The Story Goes On…125 Years 1881-2006 (PDF). International Gymnastics Federation. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
3. "FIG - History". www.gymnastics.sport. Federation Internationale de Gymnastique=. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
4. "Sa međunarodnih gimnastičkih takmičenja u Parizu" [From International Gymnastics Competitions in Paris.]. Sokolsky Glasnik (in Slovenian). Vol. 2, no. 29. July 16, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
5. "Po Vitezstvi Druzstev Vitezstvi Jednotlivcu" [After the victory of the cooperatives, the victory of the individual.]. Věstník Sokolský. Vol. 33, no. 30. July 23, 1931. pp. 513–514. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
6. "Francuski prikaz o poslednjim pariškim gimnastičkim iakmičenjima za sveisko prvenstvo" [A French account of the last Parisian gymnastic competitions for all championship.]. Sokolsky Glasnik (in Slovenian). Vol. 2, no. 30. July 23, 1931. pp. 1–2. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
7. Huguenin, Andre. 100 Years of the International Gymnastics Federation: 1881-1981 (PDF). Translated by Unger, Beatrice. International Gymnastics Federation. pp. 84–85.