Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring strength, flexibility, and kinaesthetic awareness. It developed from fitness exercises used by ancient Greek soldiers, as well incorporating cavalry skills for mounting and dismounting a horse, and circus performance skills.
Modern gymnastics, as regulated by the FIG (Federation International de Gymnastique) incorporates six distinct disciplines;
- Artistic Gymnastics (further classified as Men's and Women's Artistic Gymnastics, or MAG and WAG),
- Rhythmic Gymnastics,
- Sports Aerobics,
- Sports Acrobatics,
- Trampolining and
- General Gymnastics.
Of these disciplines, the two subdisciplines of artistic gymnastics are the best known, having been competed in every modern Summer Olympic Games.
In artistic gymnastics, competitors perform short routines (ranging from approximately 10 to 90 seconds) on different apparatus. They are then graded on a score from 0 to 10 based on whether the performance contained certain required movements, the difficulty of the movements performed, and how well their performance compared to the desired performance of that movement.
In elite competition, each competitor will compete once on each apparatus, their scores are recorded, and points are tallied up. Medals are then awarded based on the highest team or individual score. The next day, the best performers on each apparatus compete for medals on the apparatus on which they qualify.
Artistic gymnastics is one of the most popular spectator sports at the Summer Olympic Games, although it is not a particularly popular participant sport, as performing at even a basic level requires very high levels of fitness and skill which take more training than many people are prepared to commit. However, the discipline of general gymnastics is geared more towards participation for fun and fitness, rather than competition, and attracts a respectable number of participants including retired gymnasts.
The apparatus used in MAG and WAG varies, with the unique male apparatus particularly emphasising strength requirements and the women's apparatus emphasising balance and agility.
In the past, female gymnastics was dominated by girls in their early teenage years, as their small size and light weight made landings softer and many movements easier. Minimum age requirements, caused by concerns about competitor welfare and audience skepticism of the relevance of a contest dominated by pre-pubertal girls, have changed this somewhat, but elite female gymnasts are generally in their middle to late teenage years and of below-average height and weight. Male gymnasts, because of the different emphases of their apparatus, reach their peak in their early twenties.
The world's best gymnasts traditionally come from Eastern Europe, Russia, and China.
The discipline of rhythmic gymnastics is competed only by women, and involves the performance of five seperate routines with the use of five props (ball, ribbon, hoop, clubs, role) on a floor area, with a much greater emphasis on the aesthetic rather than the acrobatic. Rhythmic routines are scored out of a possible 30 points.
Sports aerobics involves the performance of routines by individuals or pairs, emphasising strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness rather than acrobatic or balance skills. Routines are peformed on a small floor area and last 90 seconds (? - check this), being judged out of a total of (check how many points is maximum).
Trampolining routines involve a build-up phase during which the gymnast jumps repeatedly to achieve height, followed by a sequence of leaps without pauses during which the gymnast performs a sequence of aerial tumbling skills. Routines are marked out of a maximum score of (?).
WAG apparatus include:
MAG apparatus include:
Famous gymnasts: