Gymnastics
What exactly is “Gymnastics,”? Gymnastics is a sport where a contestant performs acrobatic exercises on different gymnasium equipment. Gymnastics requires concentration, determination, self confidence, and a lot of practice. There are many different types of gymnastic events; Men’s events, Women’s events, and children event’s. Along with that there are different stages the gymnast competes in like floor, pommel horse, the rings, and ect. The thing about gymnastics is it’s a fun sport to watch and an even more fun sport to experience.
Two or more teams compete in a gymnastics meet, which takes place in a gymnasium. Men’s and women have different meets. Judges watch each and every gymnast’s performance, called a routine, there they decided the score of which the gymnast has earned.
Friedrich Jahn, a German, school teacher was the first man to build the first modern gymnastics equipment in the early 1800’s. Gymnastics has been part of the Olympics Games since the modern Olympics began in 1896. During the 1970’s worldwide television coverage of the Olympics helped gymnastics grow as a sport.
Gymnastics helps develop balance, endurance, flexibility, and strength. A good gymnast must devote most of their time to practicing. Most women gymnasts reach their peak in their teens. The top performers in men’s gymnastics average 21 years old.
In the Men’s gymnastic meets there are six events that are held in a set order. These events in order of performance are the (1) floor exercise, (2) pommel horse, (3) rings, (4) long horse vault, (5) parallel bars, and (6) horizontal bar. The men who compete in all six events are called all-around gymnasts. Those who enter only one or two events are called specialists.
The floor is preformed on a mat that measures about 40ft. square. The gymnast performs a continuous series of movements that require balance, flexibility, and strength. They do handsprings, leaps, somersaults in the air, and tumbling. The floor performance must be completed within 50 seconds, but no more than 70 seconds (World Book).
The Pommel Horse is also known as the side horse, is named for the padded piece of equipment on which this event is held. The horse has two wooden handles on top called the pommels. The gymnast uses the pommels to support his weight entirely with his hands. Then the gymnast’s begins his stunts(World Book).
The Rings this routine is preformed on two wooden rings suspended from cables above the floor. The gymnast leaps up and grabs the rings and then tires to keep them motionless while performing different movements. This includes handstands and complete circular swings. The gymnast has to support his own body in different “strength positions.” (World Book).
The Long Horse Vault is preformed on a stand that resembles the pommel horse but has no handles. In this event, the gymnast vaults across the length of the horse. The gymnast runs to the vault and jumps forward off a low springboard. The gymnast then performs his act. The gymnast vaults twice, but the higher score is the only one that counts (World Book).
The Horizontal Bar this event takes place on steel bar that is kind of flexible. The gymnast holds the bar with both hands and swings around it multiple times. The gymnast performs some acrobatic stunts without stopping. The dismount is kind of like a finally by doing some type of somersault (World Book).
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All-around Competition is for the men who compete in all six events. In college and international meets, an all-around competitor has to perform a compulsory routine in each event. The gymnast has the option to do another routine in each of the six events, doing what ever movements they want to. Only the all-around gymnasts compete in the international meets (World Book).
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A women’s gymnastics’ meet has four events. In order of performance, they are the (1) balance beam, (2) side horse vault, (3) uneven parallel bars, and (4) floor exercise. Most of the women that do gymnastic are all-around competitors.
The Balance Beam This event involves a long wooden beam just like in the Men’s events. Competitors perform jumps, leaps, running steps, and turn on it, and try to use the full length of the beam. The best performers in these events also do cartwheels, backhand springs, and somersaults. The routine has to be performed in no less than one minute, and twenty seconds, and no more than one minute and forty-five seconds (World Book).
The Side Horse Vault is performed on the same equipment used in the men’s long horse vault. But women gymnast vault across the width of the horse rather than it’s length (World Book).
The Uneven Parallel Bars In this event, gymnast competes on two parallel wooden bars. The gymnast now performs; she swings around performing difficult movements. The routine requires great flexibility and agility (World Book).
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The Floor Exercise is performed on a mat that resembles the one used in the men’s floor exercise. Women gymnast performs this event with a musical routine. Each gymnast designs her routine to match the tempo and mood of the music she has selected(World Book).
Gymnastics has events of all sorts for you to choose from. From the information above about gymnastics you can see the stunts the competitors do are difficult, but still very interesting, and exciting. Yet, gymnastics is a good way to get a good exercise and have fun at the same time, you still have to devote a lot of time and hard practice to do the things these gymnasts do.