Artistic gymnastics

Artistic gymnastics is a fun and exciting part of gymnastics where athletes perform short routines on different pieces of equipment. These routines show off their strength, flexibility, and skill. The sport is overseen by an organization called World Gymnastics, which creates the rules for scoring and helps run big competitions around the world. Each country also has its own group, like British Gymnastics or USA Gymnastics, to support their gymnasts.

People love to watch artistic gymnastics because it is a popular spectator sport. It is featured in many big events, including the Summer Olympic Games, where the best gymnasts from many countries compete. The athletes perform on different apparatuses, and judges use a special guide called the Code of Points to decide who does the best. This makes every routine a thrilling and exciting part of the games.

History

Gymnastics has a long history, with ancient writers like Homer, Aristotle, and Plato mentioning it. It was used for training and included activities like swimming, racing, wrestling, boxing, and horse riding. In the early 1800s, it developed in places that are now Bohemia and Germany. The term "artistic gymnastics" was created to separate free-style performances from military training. Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, known as the father of gymnastics, invented equipment like the horizontal bar and parallel bars.

The International Gymnastics Federation, or FIG, was started in 1881 to govern gymnastics worldwide. Gymnastics became an Olympic sport in 1896, but women were not allowed to compete until much later. Over time, the sport grew and changed, with different events for men and women. Today, gymnasts of all ages can compete at the highest levels, with many winning medals well into their 20s.

Apparatus

Both male and female gymnasts are judged for execution, degree of difficulty, and overall presentation. In many competitions, especially high-level ones sanctioned by the FIG, gymnasts compete in "Olympic order", which has changed over time but has stayed consistent for at least a few decades.

For men's artistic gymnastics, the Olympic order is:

For women's artistic gymnastics, the Olympic order is:

Men and women

Vault

Main article: Vault (gymnastics)

For Olympic champions, see Vault at the Olympics.

For World champions, see World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Men's vault and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Women's vault.

The vault is both an event and the primary equipment used in that event. Unlike most gymnastic events employing apparatuses, the vault is standard in men's and women's competitions, with little difference. A gymnast sprints down a runway, which is a maximum of 25 m (82 ft) in length, before leaping onto a springboard. Harnessing the energy of the spring, the gymnast directs their body hands-first toward the vault. Body position is maintained while "popping" (blocking using only a shoulder movement) the vaulting platform. The gymnast then rotates their body to land standing on the far side of the vault. In advanced gymnastics, multiple twists and somersaults may be added before landing. Successful vaults depend on the speed of the run, the length of the hurdle, the power the gymnast generates from the legs and shoulder girdle, kinesthetic awareness in the air, and the speed of rotation in the case of more challenging and complex vaults.

In 2004, the traditional vaulting horse was replaced with a new apparatus, sometimes known as a tongue or table. It is more stable, wider, and longer than the older vaulting horse—about 1 m (3.3 ft) in length and width, giving gymnasts a larger blocking surface—and is, therefore, safer than the old vaulting horse. This new, safer apparatus led gymnasts to attempt more difficult vaults.

Floor exercise

Main article: Floor (gymnastics)

For Olympic champions, see Floor at the Olympics.

For World champions, see World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Men's floor and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Women's floor.

The floor event occurs on a carpeted 12 m × 12 m (39 ft × 39 ft) square consisting of rigid foam over a layer of plywood supported by springs or foam blocks. This provides a firm surface that will respond with force when compressed, allowing gymnasts to achieve extra height and a softer landing than possible on a regular floor.

Men perform without music for 60 to 70 seconds and must touch each floor corner at least once during their routine. Their routines include tumbling passes demonstrating flexibility, strength, balance, and power. They must also show non-acrobatic skills, including circles, scales, and press handstands.

Women perform a 90-second choreographed routine to instrumental music. Their routines include tumbling passes, jumps, dance elements, acrobatic skills, and turns. Elite gymnasts may perform up to four tumbling passes.

Men only

Pommel horse

Main article: Pommel horse

For Olympic champions, see Pommel horse at the Olympics.

For World champions, see World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Men's pommel horse.

A typical pommel horse exercise involves both single-leg and double-leg work. Single-leg skills are generally found in the form of "scissors". In double leg work, the gymnast swings both legs in a circular motion (clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on preference). To make the exercise more challenging, gymnasts will often include variations on typical circling skills by turning ("moores" and "spindles") or by straddling their legs ("flares"). Routines end when the gymnast performs a dismount by swinging his body over the horse or landing after a handstand.

Still rings

Main article: Rings (gymnastics)

For Olympic champions, see Rings at the Olympics.

For World champions, see World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Men's rings.

The still rings are suspended on wire cable from a point 5.8 m (19 ft) off the floor and adjusted in height so the gymnast has room to hang freely and swing. Gymnasts must demonstrate balance, strength, power, and dynamic motion while preventing the rings themselves from swinging. At least one static strength move is required, but some gymnasts include two or three.

Parallel bars

Main article: Parallel bars

For Olympic champions, see Parallel bars at the Olympics.

For World champions, see World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Men's parallel bars.

The parallel bars consist of two bars slightly further than shoulder-width apart and usually 1.75 m (5.7 ft) high. Gymnasts execute a series of swings, balancing moves, and releases that require strength and coordination.

Horizontal bar

Main article: Horizontal bar

For Olympic champions, see Horizontal bar at the Olympics.

For World champions, see World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Men's horizontal bar.

The horizontal bar (also known as the high bar) is a 2.4 cm (0.94 in) thick steel bar raised 2.5 m (8.2 ft) above the ground. The gymnast performs 'giants' (360-degree revolutions around the bar), release skills, twists, and direction changes. Using the momentum from giants, enough height can be achieved for spectacular dismounts, such as a triple-back somersault. Leather grips are usually used to help maintain a hold on the bar.

Women only

Uneven bars

Main article: Uneven bars

For Olympic champions, see Uneven bars at the Olympics.

For World champions, see World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Women's uneven bars.

The uneven bars (known as asymmetric bars in the United Kingdom) were adapted by the Czechoslovak Sokol from the men's parallel bars sometime before World War I and were shown in international exhibition for the first time at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. They consist of two horizontal bars set at different heights. Gymnasts perform swings, pirouettes, transition moves between the bars, and releases.

Higher-level gymnasts usually wear leather grips to ensure a firm hold on the bars while protecting their hands from painful blisters and tears (known as rips). Gymnasts sometimes wet their grips with water from a spray bottle and may apply chalk to prevent the grips from slipping. Chalk may also be applied to the hands and bar if grips are not worn.

Balance beam

Main article: Balance beam

For Olympic champions, see Balance beam at the Olympics.

For World champions, see World Artistic Gymnastics Championships – Women's balance beam.

The balance beam existed as early as the 1880s in the form of a "low beam" close to the floor. By the 1920s, the beam was raised much higher due to Swedish influence on the sport.

Gymnasts perform routines ranging from 70 to 90 seconds long, consisting of leaps, acrobatic skills, turns, and dance elements on a padded spring beam. Apparatus norms set by the FIG specify that the beam must be 125 cm (4 ft) high, 500 cm (16 ft) long, and 10 cm (3.9 in) wide. The event requires balance, flexibility, and strength.

Competition format

In Olympic and World Championship competitions, meets are split into several sessions on different days: qualifications, team finals, all-around finals, and event finals.

During the qualification round, gymnasts compete with their national team in all events. These scores help decide which teams move on to the team finals and which individual gymnasts advance to the all-around and event finals. For the 2020 Olympics, teams had four gymnasts, with up to two extra gymnasts per country allowed to compete individually. In team finals, gymnasts compete on all events, and the scores determine the medalists. In the all-around finals, individual gymnasts compete in all events, and their totals decide the all-around medals. In event finals, the top gymnasts in each event compete for medals.

Competitions outside the Olympics and World Championships can use different formats. For example, the 2007 Pan American Games had a different team competition format, and some meets, like those on the World Cup circuit, do not include a team event.

Major competitions

Artistic gymnastics is very popular at the Olympic Games, which happen every four years. Countries get to send teams based on how they did in the World Championships the year before. Sometimes, countries that didn’t qualify a full team can still send one or two individual gymnasts.

There are also World Championships where gymnasts from all over the world compete. This competition changes a bit each year, sometimes having team finals, all-around finals, and event finals. Since 2019, there have also been Junior World Championships held every two years. Other big events include the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup, the World Challenge Cup Series, and the now-defunct Goodwill Games.

Dominant teams and nations

USSR and post-Soviet republics

Before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Soviet gymnasts were very successful in both men's and women's gymnastics. They started winning when women's gymnastics became a full part of the Olympics in 1952. Many famous gymnasts came from the Soviet Union, like Viktor Chukarin, Vitaly Scherbo, Larisa Latynina, and Svetlana Boginskaya. The Soviet women's team won almost every team title in World Championship and Olympic competition from 1952 to 1992, except for a few events.

After the Soviet Union broke up, gymnasts from these countries competed together one last time at the 1992 Summer Olympics as the Unified Team, winning both the men's and women's team competitions. Russia has kept up the tradition, winning medals in almost every World and Olympic competition. Ukraine and Belarus have also had strong teams at times.

Romania

The Romanian team became very successful starting at the 1976 Summer Olympics with Nadia Comăneci, who was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 in Olympic competition. They used a special training system and stayed strong for many years. Romania won many team medals at the Olympics and World Championships, including gold medals in 1984, 2000, and 2004.

Recently, Romania has not been as successful. They did not qualify for the team final at the 2015 World Championships and struggled to send full teams to the Olympics. However, they still have talented individual gymnasts.

United States

The United States was not always a top country in gymnastics, but things changed in the late 1980s. Coaches from other countries, especially from the Eastern Bloc, helped improve training. At the 1984 Olympics, the American men won gold, and the women's team won silver. Mary Lou Retton became the first American Olympic all-around champion.

Since then, the U.S. women's team has become very strong. They won team gold at the 1996 Olympics, 2003 Worlds, 2004 Olympics, 2012 Olympics, and 2016 Olympics. American women have also won the last six Olympic all-around titles. The men's team has also won medals at recent Olympics and World Championships.

China

China has had strong men's and women's gymnastics programs for the past 25 years. The Chinese men won team gold at several Olympics and World Championships. They have had great gymnasts like Li Xiaoshuang and Yang Wei. The Chinese women's team has also won gold at the World Championships and Olympics, with stars like Ma Yanhong, Lu Li, and Liu Xuan.

Japan

The Japanese men's team was very successful in the 1960s and 1970s, winning every Olympic team title from 1960 through 1976. Gymnasts like Sawao Katō and Yukio Endō were famous during this time. More recently, Kōhei Uchimura has been one of the best all-around gymnasts ever.

The women have not been as successful, but there have been standout gymnasts like Keiko Tanaka-Ikeda and Mai Murakami.

Germany

Before Germany reunited, East Germany had a very successful gymnastics program, winning many medals at the World Championships and Olympics. After reunification, Germany has had some medal-winning gymnasts like Fabian Hambüchen and Elizabeth Seitz.

Czechoslovakia

The Czechoslovak women's team was a big rival to the Soviet team for many years. They won many medals and had stars like Vlasta Děkanová and Věra Čáslavská. The men also had success before World War II.

Hungary

Hungary has had successful gymnasts like Ágnes Keleti and Henrietta Ónodi. The men have also had champions like Zoltán Magyar and Szilveszter Csollány.

Other nations

Many other countries have become strong in gymnastics in recent years, including Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and South Korea. Individual gymnasts from several other countries have also done well in major competitions.

Health consequences

Gymnastics can be a challenging sport for both the body and mind. Athletes often face risks of injuries, especially to the spine, during training and competition. The pressure to perform perfectly can also affect a gymnast’s mental well-being, sometimes leading to stress and anxiety.

It’s important for everyone involved in gymnastics to focus on safety and support each other’s health, both physically and mentally. During major competitions, athletes like Simone Biles have spoken out about the need to care for mental health as much as physical health.

Controversies and abuse

Some gymnasts have faced very hard times, including trying to stay very thin when they are growing up. This can be very tough on their bodies.

Unfortunately, some coaches and grown-ups in gymnastics have hurt young athletes. Many brave gymnasts from different countries have talked about the painful and unfair treatment they received. This has led to important changes to help keep athletes safe and healthy.