František Erben facts for kids
Quick facts for kids František Erben |
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František Erben in 1907
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country represented |  Bohemia,  Czechoslovakia |
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| Born | 27 November 1874 Prague-Žižkov, Austria-Hungary |
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| Died | 9 June 1942 (aged 67) Prague, German-occupied Czechoslovakia |
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| Discipline | Men's artistic gymnastics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level | Olympic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years on national team | Bohemia/Czechoslovakia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Žižkov Sokol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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František Erben (born November 27, 1874 – died June 9, 1942) was a famous gymnast, a great coach, and a teacher from Bohemia. Bohemia is a historical region that is now part of the Czech Republic. Erben first competed internationally at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. He finished in 32nd place there.
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A Champion Gymnast
František Erben became a true star at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. These championships are big international competitions for gymnasts.
Success at the 1907 World Championships
In 1907, Erben took part in the third-ever World Championships. This was a very important event for the team from Bohemia. They started a long tradition of being very successful in artistic gymnastics at both World and Olympic events.
At the 1907 championships in Prague:
- František Erben won a bronze medal in the all-around competition. This means he was one of the top three gymnasts overall.
- The Bohemian team won the gold medal in the team competition.
- Erben also won gold medals on both the horizontal bar and the pommel horse.
- He earned a bronze medal on the parallel bars.
More Medals in 1909 and 1911
František Erben continued his success at later World Championships.
- In 1909, the Bohemian team won a silver medal.
- Erben himself won a silver medal on the horizontal bar.
- He also took home a bronze medal on the rings.
- In 1911, the Bohemian team won another gold medal.
A Respected Teacher and Coach
Besides being a talented gymnast, František Erben was also a highly respected teacher. Many people wanted him to be their coach.
Teaching in Russia
The Russian Government chose Erben to be a gymnastics teacher for their military schools. This was a big deal because many other countries also wanted to send their best teachers. In 1909, he became a gymnastics teacher at a military academy in Petrograd, Russia.
Working with Sokol
Before going to Russia, Erben worked for the Česká Obec Sokolská, also known as COS. This was the Czech Sokol Organization. Sokol is a youth sports movement that promotes physical fitness and national pride. Erben traveled around, teaching gymnastics for them.
Leading Sokol Schools
After World War I, Erben joined the Czechoslovak Legion. This was a group of soldiers who fought for Czechoslovakia's independence. He returned to Czechoslovakia after the war. In 1925, Erben became the Director of Sokol instructor schools. People said he was a teacher who "had no equal." This happened when a new building for Sokol, called Tyršův dům (Tyrš House), opened.
Later Life and Legacy
František Erben remained an active member of the Sokol organization throughout his life. He was 67 years old when he sadly passed away in 1942 in Prague during a difficult time in history. He is remembered as a true pioneer and champion in gymnastics, and a dedicated teacher.
