In the first Olympic Games matting was hardly used. Schuhmann is performing his vault without the benefit of any padding to land on, or even a springboard from which to jump.
The First Olympics in 1896: Vaulting
(An Illustrated History of Olympic Gymnastics)
By Amy Van Deusen, About.com Guide
Carl Schuhmann (Germany) competes on the vault at the 1896 Olympics.
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