Aerobic gymnastics

Aerobic gymnastics, also called sport aerobics, is a fun and energetic sport. It started from regular aerobics. Athletes perform fast movements to music. These movements include jumps, spins, and jumps with hands. They do these movements with lots of energy and skill.

The sport is overseen by World Gymnastics. This group makes rules for competitions. The rules help everyone compete fairly and safely. People of all ages can enjoy aerobic gymnastics. It is practiced in many countries. It’s a great way to stay active, build strength, and show creativity through dance-like routines.

Competition format and scoring

Aerobic gymnastics competitions happen on a 10-metre square floor. There are seven groups to compete in. These include single routines for women and men, mixed pairs, trios, groups of five, aerobic dance groups of eight, and aerobic step groups of eight who perform on special platforms. Gymnasts can often compete in up to three groups at big events like the World Championships.

All routines last between 1 minute and 20 to 30 seconds. Women wear leotards or unitards, while men wear form-fitting tops with shorts or pants. Scoring has three parts for most routines: difficulty, execution, and artistry. Dance and step routines are only scored on artistry and execution. Difficulty is worked out by adding up the challenge of each movement and adjusting the total. Execution starts at 10 points and is lowered for mistakes. Artistry is scored up to 10 points on creativity, how well the movements match the music, and overall performance.

History

Aerobic gymnastics started with the aerobics trend in the 1980s. The first national competitions in the United States happened in 1984. Howard and Karen Schwartz helped change aerobics into a competitive sport. They organized the first World championships in 1990 with 16 countries.

In 1995, the FIG recognized aerobic gymnastics as an official discipline. They held the first Aerobic Gymnastics World Championships in Paris. Since then, many countries have joined these fun competitions.

Injuries and health issues

In aerobic gymnastics, like in other gymnastics sports such as rhythmic gymnastics, athletes sometimes feel pressure to stay slim. This pressure can come from parents, coaches, teammates, or even judges. It might lead to unhealthy eating habits.

A study from the 2022 World Championships found that athletes train about 16 to 18 hours each week. Many said they got hurt during the past year. Common injuries include muscle pulls and sprains. The legs—especially the ankles, knees, and feet—were the areas most often hurt, but shoulders, wrists, and hands also faced injuries. Many athletes also said they felt a lot of stress.

In popular culture

The TV show Key & Peele had a funny sketch about a dancer who had a tough moment in an aerobics competition. It used old videos from the National Aerobic Championship.

In the video game Team Fortress 2, one of the special moves looks like a dance move from the 1988 Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship.