ABSTRACT
Niels Bukh became a key exponent in Continental Europe’s attempt to maintain gymnastics’ precedence over British competitive sport. His revolutionizing concept of male gymnastics mainly gained its fame through its effects on the male sex role regarding norms for touching other men, for the rhythmic expression of the male body and for the exposure of the naked and sensual male body in public. These features of Bukh’s gymnastics broke with existing norms for the disciplined and correct male demeanour and would still be seen as rather daring today. In addition, it is difficult to understand the popularity of Bukh’s new gymnastics for male heterosexual youth without including his own homosexual orientation and personal interest in the aesthetics of the male body.
