1938 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

Last updated
1938 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
Location Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Prague, Czechoslovakia
  1934
1950  

The 11th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1938.

Contents

According to the website Gymnastics-History.com, various original source materials stated that the political situation, with what would become World War II on the near horizon, was grave in Czechoslovakia. An article in the 28 May 1938 edition of The New York Times described the political situation in Czechoslovakia as a “powder barrel” about which Soviet spokespersons “continued to evince concern all week over the possibilities of a general war blazing up from the Czechoslovakia situation [1] Also, the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer stated, in an article in their 6 July 1938 edition, “In the midst of the gravest crisis experienced since the foundation of Czechoslovakia, Prague is celebrating the tenth Congress of the Slavonic Gymnastic Movement called the Sokol, or Falcon”. [1] It was due to this political context that the 1938 World Championships were under-attended. A Sokol publication stated

“Only one thing they were not that happy about. The Hungarians, who were an excellent team in Budapest and Berlin, and the Germans, who were 0.5% ahead of our team in Berlin, did not have their strong competitors here. Both teams were registered for the competition and withdrew only at the last minute. The Dutch team apologized on the eve of the competition and did not participate.” [1]

Medals

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH)116219
2Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland  (SUI)44412
3Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia (YUG)0123
4Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)0011
Totals (4 entries)1511935

Men

Team final

MedalCountryPoints
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Jan Gajdoš, Gustav Hrubý, Alois Hudec, Emanuel Löffler, Vratislav Petráček, Jan Sládek, Jindřich Tintěra
806.800
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Albert Bachmann, Walter Beck, Eugen Mack, Hans Negelin, Michael Reusch, Leo Schürmann, ?? Smid
791.833
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia
Miroslav Forte, Boris Gregorka, Josip Kujundžić, Janez Pristov, Josip Primožič, Miloš Skrbinšek, Jože Vadnov
741.300
4Flag of France.svg  France 740.133
5Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 681.233
6Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 626.033
7Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 558.400
8Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 518.933

All-around

A total of 59 competitors were individually ranked in the all-around competition. [2]

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jan Gajdoš 138.06
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jan Sládek 137.466
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Eugen Mack 136.40
4Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Alois Hudec 136.333
5Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Leo Schürmann 134.533
6Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Gustav Hrubý 133.833
7Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Walter Beck 132.60
8Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Hans Negelin 131.366
9Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Emanuel Löffler 131.333
10Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vratislav Petráček 129.833
11Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Guglielmo Schmid 128.766
12Flag of France.svg  France Lucien Masset 128.633
13Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Albert Bachmann 127.533
14Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Josip Vadnav 127.3
15Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Janez Pristov 127.266
16Flag of France.svg  France Armand Walter 126.6
17Flag of France.svg  France Maurice Benhaim 125.266
18Flag of France.svg  France Gaston Murray 124.666
19Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Josip Primožič 124.633
20Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jindřich Tintěra 124.133
21Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Edmund Kosman 124.1
22 (tie)Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Boris Gregorka 123.766
22 (tie)Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Jey Kugeler 123.766
24Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Michael Reusch 121.00
25Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Wiencenty Pietrzykowski 120.833
26Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Josip Kujundžić 119.366
27Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Siegbert Bader 119.333
28Flag of France.svg  France Louis Riollet 119.166
29Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Miroslav Forte 118.9
30Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Josef Novotný 116.3
31Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Stjepan Boltižar 116.033
32Flag of France.svg  France Paul Cacheux 115.5
33Flag of France.svg  France Armand Solbach 115.1
34Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Mathias Logelin 114.566
35Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Miloš Skrbinšek 111.866
36Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Wilhelm Breguła 110.666
37Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Nino Mirtchev 110.366
38Flag of France.svg  France André Weingand 109.366
39Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Tadeusz Bettyna 109.066
40Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Jos Romersa 108.366
41Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Paweł Gaca 108.333
42Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Bernard Radajewski 108.233
43Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Arther Defer 104.1
44Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Hri Boddaert, Jr. 103.466
45Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Georges Wengler 99.9
46Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Adolf Bickert 99.433
47Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Wilhelm Szlosarek 99.133
48Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Kosta Ignatov 96.033
49Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Maksymilian Pradela 95.966
50Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Joseph Foulon 93.933
51Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Franz Haupert 90.566
52Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Willy Klein 88.9
53Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Ivan Tchouresky 86.133
54Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Albert Maest 83.166
55Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Metodi Christov 78.966
56Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Josif Christov 74.833
57Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Stan. Stobbaert 74.4
58Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Ivan Siarov 72.6
59Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Robert Weiwers 66.833

[3]

Floor exercise

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jan Gajdoš 18.83
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Alois Hudec 18.56
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Eugen Mack 18.56
4Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Michael Reusch 18.36
5 (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vratislav Petráček 18.26
5 (tie)Flag of France.svg  France Maurice Benhaim 18.26
5 (tie)Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Leo Schürmann 18.26
8Flag of France.svg  France Lucien Masset 18.23
9Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Emanuel Löffler 18.06
10Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Walter Beck 18.00

Pommel horse

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Michael Reusch 19.56
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vratislav Petráček 19.46
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Leo Schürmann 19.40
4Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jan Gajdoš 19.16
5Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jan Sládek 19.06
6Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Eugen Mack 18.90
7Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Albert Bachmann 18.76
8Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Guglielmo Schmid 18.46
9Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Alois Hudec 18.30
10Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jindřich Tintěra 18.23

Rings

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Alois Hudec 19.63
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Michael Reusch 19.30
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vratislav Petráček 18.76
4Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Emanuel Löffler 18.43
5Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Edmund Kosman 18.33
6Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Eugen Mack 18.30
7 (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jan Gajdoš 18.26
7 (tie)Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Miloš Skrbinšek 18.26
7 (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jindřich Tintěra 18.26
10Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Miroslav Forte 17.90

Vault

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Eugen Mack 19.83
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Walter Beck 19.66
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Hans Nagelin 19.50
4Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Gustav Hrubý 19.36
5Flag of France.svg  France Armand Walter 19.16
6Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Leo Schürmann 19.06
7Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Jey Kugeler 18.96
8Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Albert Bachmann 18.93
9 (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Alois Hudec 18.90
9 (tie)Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Jože Vadnov 18.90

Parallel bars

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Michael Reusch 19.56
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Alois Hudec 19.53
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Josip Primožič 18.73
4Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Eugen Mack 18.66
5Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Hans Nagelin 18.46
6Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jan Gajdoš 18.33
7Flag of France.svg  France Lucien Masset 18.16
8Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Guglielmo Schmid 18.13
9 (tie)Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Walter Beck 18.10
9 (tie)Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Leo Schürmann 18.10

Horizontal bar

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Michael Reusch 19.76
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Alois Hudec 19.70
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Walter Beck 19.63
4Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Eugen Mack 19.33
5Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Josip Primožič 19.30
6Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Leo Schürmann 19.16
7Flag of France.svg  France Armand Walter 19.06
8 (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jan Gajdoš 19.03
8 (tie)Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Josip Kujundžić 19.03
10Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Jan Sládek 18.86

Track and Field and Athletics component and additional notes

According to the official commemorative publication for the 10th Prague Sokol Slet in 1938, of which these World Championships were a feature, as well as to an article on Gymnastics-History.com, [3] there was a Track and Field and Athletics component to the competition, as there had been in some previous World Championships and Olympic Games. In this edition of the World Championships, the track and field and athletics segment of the competition included 100 meter, High jump, and Shot put events. According to information given in this 10th Sokol Slet publication, the maximum possible individual all-around total was 150 points, of which the track and field and athletics component contributed a total of 30 points, with a maximum of 10 points each being awarded for the 100 meter, High Jump, and Shot Put events. [3]

Although there is no mention of there having been awarded medals solely for placements earned in the track and field segment of the competition, the three highest-placing individuals in the Track and Field segment of the competition were:

  1. Wiencenty Pietrzykowski of Poland, with 29.6 points
  2. Gustav Hrubý of Czechoslovakia, with 28.7 points
  3. Jan Sládek of Czechoslovakia, with 28.4 points.

The 1938 Sokol Slet commemorative publication also specifically articulates that, minus the track and field events, among the highest individual placers of the gymnastics-apparatus-only segment of the competition (120 of the 150 total points), the top 3 places were earned by:

  1. Alois Hudec of Czechoslovakia, with 114.633 points
  2. Eugen Mack of Switzerland, with 113.6 points
  3. Michael Reusch of Switzerland, with 112.266 points

with Gajdoš, Petráček and Beck rounding out the top 6, in that order. [4]


Under all World Championships and Olympic Games editions of artistic gymnastics competition since World War II, there is no longer a track and field or athletics component to the competition. In these long and currently prevailing standards, then, in “pure gymnastics” terms, Alois Hudec could be considered one of the sport’s repeat World All-Around Champions, who are rare compared to single-time winners.

Women

Team final

MedalCountryPoints
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Vlasta Děkanová, Božena Dobešová, Marie Hendrychová, Anna Nezerpová, Matylda Pálfyová, Marie Skálová, Zdeňka Veřmiřovská
552.76
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia
Ančka Hafner, Ema Kovačić, Marta Podpac, Marta Pustišek, Dušica Radivojević, Lidija Rupnik, Milena Sket, Jelica Vazzaz [5] [ better source needed ]
513.96
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 510.21
4Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 286.34

All-around

A total of 32 woman gymnasts were individually ranked for the all-around competition. [2] With the context of both the previous World Championships which were the first with a women's segment to the competition as well as the interceding Olympic Games, the outcome and composition of the women's all-around podium at these championships was significant. Reportedly, cheating occurred at the first 1934 women's installment of these games [6] which, when undone, allowed the Czechoslovak team and their foremost star Vlasta Děkanová to be the first-place finishers, as a team and individual, respectively. Going into the 1936 Olympics, the Czechoslovaks and Děkanová were the favorites, but had to take 2nd place behind the home-ground advantaged German team (who did not compete at the 1934 Worlds), and the top three scoring individuals were all German. These 1938 Worlds were hosted in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and this time all three spots on the all-around podium were occupied by individuals from the Czechoslovak team. Děkanová (a Czech) successfully defended her first-place finish from the previous worlds, Zdeňka Veřmiřovská (a Moravian) won silver, and Matylda Pálfyová (a Slovak) won bronze. The three regions from which each hailed within the former Czechoslovakia were the 3 largest and most significant regions of that nation, so the fullest representation possible of geographical diversity within that country was made manifest on this all-around podium.

RankNationGymnastGymnastics EventsAthletics EventsIndividual Grand Totals
Barres asymetriques.svg Barres asymetriques.svg ††Flying Rings Poutre.svg Saut de cheval.svg Gymnastics Events Totals60 metersDiscusAthletics Events TotalsIndividual Grand Total
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Děkanová 9.6514.859.5514.914.7663.6610102083.66
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Zdeňka Veřmiřovská 9.414.19.914.5514.7662.7110102082.71
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Matylda Pálfyová 7.9514.759.9514.714.8362.18109.819.881.98
4Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Janina Skirlińska 8.1514.79.6514.413.460.310102080.3
5Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Marie Skálová 7.3514.79.214.2514.660.110102080.1
6Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Anna Nezerpová 7.9514.59.2514.1514.7360.58108.318.378.88
7Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Lidija Rupnik 8.613.758.6513.414.4658.8610102078.86
8Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Ančka Hafner 9.2514.78.7514.214.561.4107.317.378.7
9Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Marie Hendrychová 8.514.39.4514.3514.4361.0388.816.877.83
10Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Božena Dobešová 8.814.89.711.614.6659.5698.417.476.96

† Compulsory Uneven Bars †† Optional Uneven Bars [7] [8] [2]

Vault

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Matylda Pálfyová 14.83
Gold medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Marta Majowska 14.83
Bronze medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Božena Dobešová 14.76
Bronze medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Děkanová 14.76
Bronze medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Milena Sket 14.76

[7]

Compulsory Uneven Bars

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Děkanová 9.65
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Zdeňka Veřmiřovská 9.40
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Ančka Hafner 9.25

[7]

Optional Uneven Bars

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Děkanová 14.85
Silver medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Foltová 14.80
Silver medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Božena Dobešová 14.80

[7]

Balance Beam

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Děkanová 14.90
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Milena Sket 14.76
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Foltová 14.75

[7]

Flying Rings

MedalCountryGymnastScore
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Matylda Pálfyová 9.95
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Zdeňka Veřmiřovská 9.90
Bronze medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Foltová 9.80
Bronze medal icon.svg (tie)Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Wiesława Noskiewicz 9.80

[7]

60 meters

MedalCountryGymnastTime (seconds)
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Ema Kovačić 8.30
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Děkanová 8.40
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Matylda Pálfyová 9.80

[7]

Discus

MedalCountryGymnastDistance (meters)
Gold medal icon.svg Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia Milena Sket 30.23
Silver medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Vlasta Děkanová 29.80
Bronze medal icon.svg Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Marie Skálová 28.15

[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 History.com, Gymnastics. "1938: The First All-Around World Champion in Women's Gymnastics". Gymnastics-History.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Macanovic, Hrvoje (July 30, 1938). "Setsko gimnasticko prvenstvo 1938 u Pragu" [World Gymnastics Championships 1938 in Prague.]. Sokolsky Glasnik (in Slovenian). Vol. 9, no. 26–29. p. 34. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 History.com, Gymnastics. "1938: Another Perfect 10 and Shot Put Struggles during the Men's Competition at the World Championships". Gymnastics-History.com. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  4. Penniger, Ezven (1939). "XI. Závody Mezinárodní Tělocvičné Federace / 11th International Gymnastics Federation Competitions". In Prochazka, Rudolf (ed.). Památník 10. Všesokolského Sjezdu v Praze 1938[Memorial of the 10th Congress of the University of Prague 1938] (in Czech). Vol. 7. Smichov, Prague: Pec and Československé obce Sokolské, Neubert and Sons, printers. p. 188.
  5. Vreca, Sanja (2016). ŽIVLJENJEPIS SLOVENSKIH VRHUNSKIH TELOVADK OD 1936 DO 1970 [Curriculum Vitae of Slovenian Top Gymnasts From 1936 to 1970](PDF) (Diploma). University of Ljubljana. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  6. "Stříbrná zlatá Vlasta Děkanová - Mistryně světa v tělocviku". 18 August 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 History.com, Gymnastics. "1938: The First All-Around World Champion in Women's Gymnastics". Gymnastics-History.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  8. "Ceskoslovensko vyhralo mezinarodni telocvicne zavody" [Czechoslovakia won international gym races.]. Vecer (in Czech). Vol. 25, no. 154. July 2, 1938. p. 30. Retrieved December 21, 2020.