Wheel Gymnastics History

International History:

Wheel Gymnastics or Gymwheel German Wheel Rhoenrad photo

Wheel gymnastics was invented in 1925 by a German railway worker named Otto Feick (photo above). He built several different designs of the wheel, but only one has prevailed. This photo (below) shows a garage from 1928 in which gymnastic wheels were manufactured.

Wheel Gymnastics or Gymwheel German Wheel Rhoenrad photo

In 1930 the first wheel gymnastic competition was held in Bad Kissingen. During the 1936 Olympic games held in Berlin, 120 wheel gymnasts performed an exhibition in the opening ceremonies.

Development of the sport was halted during the Second World War, and it was not until 1959 that the sport was recognized by the DTB (German Gymnastics Federation). Since that time, wheel gymnastics has spread from Germany to many other countries, including Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Israel, Norway, Finland, Sweden, England, Austria, Korea, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, China, Australia, Canada and the United States.

In 1990, the first official European Championship occurred as well as the first International Training Camp. In 1995, the International Rhoenradturnen Verband was founded (IRV). This allowed for standards and regulations across Europe and the rest of the world to be set. Shortly after the IRV was founded, the first World Championships took place in Den Helder, Holland. World Championships occur every two years, alternating with International Training Camps. The fourth World Championships occured in Liestal, Switzerland, May 22-27, 2001. Wheel gymnastic instruction manuals are now available and are distributed worldwide to interested parties.

There are currently six nations that oversee the international competition and organization of the sport of wheel gymnastics; Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, and Japan. These five nations comprise the majority of the population (roughly10,000-12,000 of the 15,000 wheel gymnasts worldwide) interested in the sport and spectacle of wheel gymnastics. The next World Championships will be held in Lillehammer, Norway May 27-June1, 2003. For more information on the international history of wheel gymnastics, visit the official website of the International Rhoenradturnen Verband at www.wheelgymnastics.com.

USA Wheel Gymnastics History:

Although having a long-standing existence in Europe (and more recently in Japan) as a competitive sport, wheel gymnastics has only recently remerged in the United States, and only as entertainment in circuses (spectacle). The wheel was exhibited throughout the U.S in the late 1920s and early 1930s by Otto Feick and a group of gymnasts.

"April 9, 1930. New York. Miss Leni Klarmann, pictured with her rhoenrad which she will introduce to American Athletes. The rhoenrad is a gymnastic wheel device which has attained great popularity on athletic fields in Germany."

The University of Illinois-Urbana displayed its wheel talent in their annual circus show in 1932. The initial existence of wheel was, however, short lived. It wasn’t until the early 1970s, when a German world champion, Norbert Dill, toured the United States displaying his many talents on the wheel that it became popular for a second time. In 1971, he assisted the Gamma Phi Circus at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois in starting its German wheel act.

For the first few years, there were only one or two circus members to perform in the Gamma Phi Circus's original large wheel, but now there is an average of 10 performers who are in the act each year. Gamma Phi currently has four German wheels, the original large wheel (2.15 meter), a much smaller wheel (1.85 meter), a medium sized wheel (2.05 meter) that was purchased in late 1997, and a new wheel (1.95 meter) arrived in April of 2001.

There are a few other areas in the United States and in Canada that practice wheel gymnastics. The Junior Gamma Phi Circus at Metcalf Elementary School at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, has two wheels. They have been practicing wheel gymnastics since 1988. In Fairfax, Virginia, at the Oakview elementary school there is also a circus program that includes gymwheel in their regular circus arts training. At Triton College, Triton Troupers circus in Chicago, Illinois, there have been several amateur performing wheel gymnasts over the last ten years. The Red Unit of the Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey Circus, during their 1995 tour, had several developing wheel performers. Due to the recent success of Cirque Du Soleils’ Quidam, wheel gymnast Chris Lashua has spread the popularity of Rhonrad throughout the United States. Cirque Du Soleil also has a more recent show, La Nouba, stationed in Orlando, Florida, that features Stacey and Bruce Bilodeau as wheel performers. It may be noted that Chris Lashua, Stacey, and Bruce Bilodeau were trained by the esteemed Wolfgang Bientzle, who briefly performed in another of Cirque's shows; Mystere, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bientzle has been a competitive wheel gymnast as well as showman for the last 20 years.

Norbert Sinz, also a successful competitive wheel gymnast from Germany, performed at Sea World in Florida during the early 1990s. Bello Nock, star of the famous Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus, is also a practicing wheel gymnast, much like his father Eugene Nock. Recently, Cirque Eloize has displayed a wheel gymnast in their Orchestra show. Cirkids, a Vancouver based circus arts school for kids, recently added wheel gymnastics to their teaching repertoire. The Peru Circus in Peru, Indiana has recently developed a significant wheel program as of 2002. Also, Circus Juventas in St. Paul, Minnesota, another circus arts school, included wheel gymnastics in their program. Basel’s Gymnastics out of Texas is starting a rhoenrad program as well. The prior list comprises the vast majority of wheel gymnastic participants and events within the United States and Canada where the sport revolves primarily around the production of spectacle within circus arts. Through USA Wheel Gymnastics, we are promoting the first USA national championship to be held at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois this next spring 2003.

Wheel Gymnastics or Gymwheel German Wheel Rhoenrad photo

Revised: February 26, 2003 .

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Last updated: September 13, 2004.