Longines’ track record in gymnastics

In 1889 Longines produced the first pocket chronograph, the 19 CH calibre, which measured fifths of a second and had a 30-minute counter.
As official timekeeper for the Federal Gymnastics Meet held in Basel (Switzerland) in 1912, Longines achieved an incredible world first in the history of sport: automatic timing using a starting and finishing tape for the 80 metres sprint. This automatic timing marked a turning point in Longines’ ever closer involvement in the world of sport.

On the strength of this pioneering achievement in sports timing, Longines was selected by the International Gymnastics Federation in 1989 as official timekeeper for all artistic and rhythmic gymnastics competitions (world championships, continental championships, other major championships, Olympic Games, etc.). In collaboration with the International Gymnastics Federation, Longines launched its Prize for Elegance at the 21st World Championships in Individual Rhythmic Gymnastics, held in Berlin (Germany) in 1997.
The following year, the brand presented its ambassador of elegance, Svetlana Khorkina, the only gymnast to have won the individual multiple competition at the world championships three times in succession. In 1999 Longines presented a new ambassador of elegance, the Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva, at the 15th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Budapest (Hungary), where the brand was both sponsor and official timekeeper.
In 2005 Longines announced its partnership with the Russian men’s artistic gymnastics team, which wore the Longines logo alongside the Chinese men’s artistic gymnastics team, which had already been sponsored by the brand the year before. The Swiss watch brand also presented its new ambassadors of elegance in the form of three young and talented gymnasts: Dinara Gimatova (Azerbaijan), Olga Kapranova (Russia) and Aliya Yussupova (Kazakhstan).