Germany, which was key in developing apparatus gymnastics, won most of the medals as men from five countries competed in the horizontal bar, parallel bars, pommel horse, rings and vault.

• 1896年在雅典召开的第一届奥运会上，体操又重回奥运赛场，共有来自五国的男运动员参加了单杠、双杠、鞍马、吊环和跳马项目的角逐，注重发展器械体操的德国包揽了大部分的奖牌。