Gymnastics

Gymnastics consists of a variety of disciplines – including artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, acrobatic, aerobic, trampoline, tumbling, and Parkour - all requiring balance, agility, flexibility, and strong core strength.

📜 Gymnastics History

As with its name (gymnos), the sport originates from ancient Greece. The Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) is the sport's global governing body and was established in 1881. Growing uptake and interest ensured the sport was included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Over the years, many exercises have fallen under the gymnastics category and have been standardised to reach the recognised disciplines we see today.

💯 Gymnastic Format & Scoring

Artistic gymnastics is the most widely followed form of gymnastics. It is divided into men’s and women’s, each competing in slightly different events. Men compete in floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, parallel bars, horizontal bar, and vault. Women compete in vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. Other forms of gymnastics are often specialisms of one gender.

Like artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics regularly features in the Olympics. It combines elements of dance with gymnastics using apparatus such as a ball, ribbon, hoop, clubs, or rope.

Other forms of gymnastics include acrobatic, aerobic, trampoline, tumbling, and Parkour. All require gymnasts to perform routines on which they are marked by a judging panel. The sport also includes team versions of the disciplines where scores are combined from the performances of a group of gymnasts.