Para-gymnastics

Para-gymnastics, also known as disability gymnastics or para gymnastics, is a special kind of gymnastics for athletes with disabilities. It lets everyone, no matter their abilities, do flips, jumps, and balance acts. In October 2024, it became an official discipline of World Gymnastics. Now it is recognized worldwide as an important sport.

This sport is exciting because it shows strength, skill, and determination. Athletes train very hard to perfect their routines, just like Olympic gymnasts. Para-gymnastics helps build confidence and shows that disabilities do not stop someone from doing great things. It brings together people from many countries to compete fairly and celebrate their achievements.

History

The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) started a group called Gymnastics for All. In 2018, they brought together many gymnastics groups from different countries.

Countries like the United States had team competitions for athletes with disabilities. Great Britain held competitions for individual athletes.

In October 2024, FIG made para-gymnastics an official type of gymnastics. This is gymnastics performed on different apparatuses by gymnasts with an approved Para classification. As of 2024, para-gymnastics is only for national competitions.

Notable para-gymnasts

Some well-known athletes in para-gymnastics include Jen Bricker-Bauer, Alex Buesnel, and Carol Johnston. Others who have made their mark in this sport are Stacie Ridley and Oli Kettleborough. These athletes show great skill and determination in their gymnastics routines.