Aerobic gymnastics

Aerobic gymnastics, also called sport aerobics, is a fun and energetic competitive sport. It started from regular aerobics, where athletes perform complex and fast movements to music. These movements include jumps, spins, and jumps with hands, and they are done with great energy and skill.

The sport is overseen by World Gymnastics, which creates rules for how competitions are judged. These rules help make sure everyone competes fairly and safely. People of all ages can enjoy aerobic gymnastics, and it is practiced in many countries around the world. It’s a great way to stay active, build strength, and show off creativity through dance-like routines.

Competition format and scoring

Aerobic gymnastics competitions take place on a 10-metre square floor. There are seven categories, including individual 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 categories at major 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 scored only 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 began with the aerobics trend of the 1980s, leading to the first national competitions in the United States in 1984. Howard and Karen Schwartz helped turn aerobics into a competitive sport and organized the first World championships in 1990 with 16 countries.

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

Injuries and health issues

In aerobic gymnastics, as in other gymnastics sports like rhythmic gymnastics, athletes sometimes feel pressure to stay very slim, especially if they are a bit heavier than others. This pressure can come from parents, coaches, teammates, or even judges, and it might lead to unhealthy eating habits.

A study from the 2022 World Championships showed that athletes train about 16 to 18 hours each week. Many reported getting hurt during the past year, with common injuries including 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. More than half of the athletes said they felt a lot of stress.

In popular culture

The TV show Key & Peele made a funny sketch about a dancer having a tough moment during an aerobics competition, using 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.