Sydney, 28 September 2000. Rieko Matsunaga of Japan during the rhythmic gymnastics in Pavilion 3 of the Sydney Showground on Day 13 of the Games.

A perfect fusion of athletics and aesthetics, gymnastics ranks among the defining sports of the Olympic Games.

When rhythmic gymnastics first caught the attention of the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) in the middle of the 20th century, its devotees were calling it "modern gymnastics". Yet its hazy history can clearly be traced to at least the last century.