Like most modern day sports, the origin of the balance beam began with pirates.

During the late 18th century, it became popular for pillaging pirates to punish their captives by having them "walk the plank." The plank was a narrow, wooden board that extended over the ocean. Initially, victims would walk off of the plank with their hands bound and weights strapped to their ankles. After awhile, the pirates became bored with this method and began looking for more entertaining torture techniques. It was Black Jack Sculley - a seafaring rogue aboard the most infamous of pirate ships, the Iron Cross - who first suggested that the victims be forced to perform for their lives.

"Arrrrrrgh, if ye be dancin' on the plank, ye may find yer salvation. ARRRRRGH!" (Lewis, Pirates of the Past, Modern Olympians, p. 56)

From then on, victims were forced to perform dance skills as they walked down the plank. The pirates would gather around the sides of the ship to watch and engaged in lively discussions about the quality of the victim's balancing skills. They spared the lives of those prisoners who showed the most daring and creative routines. Some routines were so impressive that detailed records of the skills were kept. Eventually, a scoring system was developed, and pirate ships would meet at secret locations to hold plank walking competitions.

Captain John Boneknuckle wrote in his diary about how a "resounding cry of delight arose from the galley of scalleywags" after one prisoner performed a full-twisting Albatross loop. The prisoner was granted a pardon and was set free upon arrival at the next port town. However, most prisoners were not so lucky. Many fell into the brimey sea after losing their footing or were struck by a stray bullet from the fights that would break out amongst the pirates during judging.

As the years went on, pirating fell out of vogue, but the spectacle of plank walking remained. Indeed, plank walking debuted at the very first modern Olympics under the new-fangled title, "Balance Beam", so as to distance it from its scurvy past.