Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises. It needs balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, artistry and endurance. It helps build strong arms, legs, shoulders, back, chest, and abdominal muscles. The sport started with exercises used by the ancient Greeks for skills like getting on and off a horse.

The most common form of competitive gymnastics is artistic gymnastics. For women, the events are floor, vault, uneven bars, and balance beam. For men, events are floor, vault, rings, pommel horse, parallel bars, and horizontal bar.

The world governing body for competition in gymnastics is World Gymnastics. They watch over many gymnastics types, including rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining, tumbling, acrobatic, aerobic, parkour and para-gymnastics. People of all ages and skill levels enjoy gymnastics, from young children to experienced athletes.

Etymology

The word gymnastics comes from an ancient Greek word meaning "to train naked." In the past, athletes trained and competed without clothing, which is why the word means this today.

History

Gymnastics started in Ancient Greece. People exercised to stay healthy and strong. Over time, gymnastics changed and became more organized.

In the 1800s, new gymnastics equipment and schools were created. In 1896, gymnastics was part of the first modern Olympic Games. Today, gymnastics has many events for both men and women, and it is popular all around the world.

FIG-recognized disciplines

See also: List of gymnastics competitions and Major achievements in gymnastics by nation

The following disciplines are governed by FIG.

Artistic gymnastics

Main article: Artistic gymnastics

Artistic gymnastics has men's and women's events. Men compete on six apparatuses: floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar. Women compete on four: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.

Rhythmic gymnastics

Main article: Rhythmic gymnastics

Only women compete in rhythmic gymnastics. This sport mixes ballet, gymnastics, dance, and handling different pieces of equipment. Gymnasts can compete alone or in groups.

Trampolining

Main article: Trampolining

Trampolining has several events, such as individual and synchronized trampoline, double mini trampoline, and tumbling. Since 2000, individual trampoline has been part of the Olympic Games.

Tumbling

Main article: Tumbling (sport))

In tumbling, athletes do flips and twists on a padded track. There are qualifying and finals rounds, with both individual and team events.

Acrobatic gymnastics

Main article: Acrobatic gymnastics

Acrobatic gymnastics is a group sport for both men and women. Teams of two, three, or four people perform acrobatic moves to music.

Aerobic gymnastics

Main article: Aerobic gymnastics

Aerobic gymnastics includes routines performed by individuals, pairs, trios, small groups, and larger dance groups. It focuses on strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness.

Parkour

Main article: Parkour

On 28 January 2018, parkour was approved to become a FIG sport. The first Parkour World Championships happened from 15 to 16 October 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.

Para-gymnastics

Main article: Para-gymnastics

Para-gymnastics is gymnastics for athletes with disabilities. It was recognized as a new FIG discipline in October 2024. Right now, it only includes artistic gymnastics.

Other disciplines

The following disciplines are not currently recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique.

Aesthetic group gymnastics

Main article: Aesthetic group gymnastics

Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (AGG) comes from Finland. It is different from rhythmic gymnastics because athletes perform large, flowing movements in teams without using equipment. This sport needs skills like flexibility, balance, speed, and coordination. Performances focus on smooth, beautiful movements done together as a group. The first world competition for this sport took place in 2000.

TeamGym

Main article: TeamGym

TeamGym is a competitive sport started by the European Union of Gymnastics. It includes teams of men, women, or mixed groups who compete in floor exercises, tumbling, and trampoline skills. Teamwork and skill are very important in this sport. European Championships for TeamGym have been held since 2010.

Wheel gymnastics

Main article: Wheel gymnastics

Wheel gymnastics involves performing exercises using a large round frame called the Rhönrad or German wheel. Athletes move in straight lines, spirals, and other patterns while inside the wheel. The first world competition for this unique sport was held in 1995.

Mallakhamba

Main article: Mallakhamba

Mallakhamba is a traditional Indian sport where gymnasts perform tricks and poses around a tall wooden pole or rope. This sport combines strength and balance. In 2013, the state of Madhya Pradesh named mallakhamba its official state sport. The first world championship for mallakhamba was held in 2019.

Non-competitive gymnastics

General gymnastics, also called "gymnastics for all," lets people of all ages and abilities join performance groups of 6 to more than 150 athletes. It is more like a sports program or performing art than a competitive sport. Groups can perform many different gymnastics events one after another, such as still rings, synchronized trampoline, and even routines not normally in gymnastics competitions like aerial silk. They often perform synchronized, choreographed routines, and troupes can include both boys and girls, divided into different age groups.

The largest general gymnastics event is the World Gymnaestrada, held every four years, with the first one in 1939. In 1984, gymnastics for all was officially recognized by the International Gymnastic Federation and by national federations around the world. Today, it has over 30 million participants and is valued for its health benefits.

Scoring (code of points)

Main article: Code of Points

In gymnastics, a gymnast's score has two parts. The first part is the D score. It shows how hard the moves are and if the routine follows the rules. The second part is the E score. It shows how well the gymnast does the routine, like balance and control. The final score is the D score plus the E score.

Since 2006, the D score can keep going up with harder moves. Before that, the total score could not go above 10. The scoring rules change a little every four years, especially during the Olympic Games.

Former apparatus and events

Rope climbing

Main article: Rope climbing

Rope climbing was a gymnastics event where athletes climbed a long rope as fast as they could. They used only their hands and arms to climb. Some gymnasts started sitting on the floor and could kick their legs for help. Others climbed in special ways without using their legs at all.

Flying rings

Main article: Flying rings

Flying rings was a gymnastics event where performers did stunts while swinging on rings. This event was official in college and amateur gymnastics until the early 1960s.

Club swinging

Club swinging, also known as Indian clubs, was a men's gymnastics event until the 1950s. It involved using clubs in a simpler way than rhythmic gymnastics, with few throws. This event was part of the 1904 and 1932 Summer Olympic Games.

Other (men's artistic)

• Team horizontal bar and parallel bar in the 1896 Summer Olympics
• Team free and Swedish system in the 1912 and 1920 Summer Olympics
• Combined and triathlon in the 1904 Summer Olympics
• Side horse vault in 1924 Summer Olympics
• Tumbling in the 1932 Summer Olympics

Other (women's artistic)

• Team exercise at the 1928, 1936, and 1948 Summer Olympics
• Parallel bars at the 1938 World Championships
• Team portable apparatus at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics

Health and safety

Gymnastics can be risky, especially for young athletes. It needs careful training to stay safe. Some moves are now banned because they caused too many injuries. Equipment has been improved to help prevent accidents.

Landing is very important in gymnastics. Athletes must learn the right way to land to avoid hurting themselves. Proper landing helps reduce injuries to the legs and feet. Coaches teach gymnasts the best techniques for safe landings. Regular strength training and careful practice help protect gymnasts from common injuries like wrist and foot problems.