What Is Artistic Gymnastics?
Artistic gymnastics is a sport of skill and grace. It combines elements of ballet, tumbling, acrobatics, and rhythmic gymnastics in an aesthetically pleasing performance.
Most practitioners strive for perfection by using basic tumbling elements like handstands, cartwheels, or rolls but continually challenge themselves with increasingly complex components like flips or other synchronized body movement.
What’s The Difference Between Artistic & Regular Gymnastics?
The main difference between artistic gymnastics and other types of gymnastics is that artistic gymnastics focuses more on aesthetic elements such as body line, form, and execution. In contrast, other types of gymnastics place more emphasis on strength, power, and flexibility.
Origins
The first recorded instance of artistic gymnastics was in the early 1800s in Germany. The sport quickly gained popularity and began appearing in international competitions by the late 1800s. Women’s gymnastics debuted at the 1928 Olympics, and women’s events have been held every Summer Olympics since then.
The International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) governs the sport of gymnastics worldwide. There are currently more than 100 member nations of the FIG. Today, artistic gymnastics is enjoyed by men and women of all ages worldwide. It is a sport that truly has something for everyone.
Events
Floor Exercise Event: requires the athlete to perform various acrobatic and tumbling movements on a springboard-like surface. This event emphasizes explosive power, gracefulness, and artistry.
Pommel Horse Event: requires the athlete to perform various handstands and other moves on a small horse-shaped apparatus. This event emphasizes strength, control, and coordination.
Still Rings Event: requires the athlete to perform various swings, circles, and other moves on two horizontal rings. This event emphasizes strength, power, and gratefulness.
Vault Event: requires the athlete to run down a runway and perform a single acrobatic move on a springboard-like apparatus. This event emphasizes explosive power and coordination.
How Is Artistic Gymnastics Scored?
Artistic gymnastics is a sport scored based on the athlete’s performance on various apparatus. The scoring is done by a panel of judges, each giving a score for the routine. The final score is an average of the scores given by the judges.
The different elements of a routine are each given a certain number of points, which are added up to give the final score. The Difficulty Score is the sum of the points given for each element of the routine.
The Execution Score is based on how well the athlete performs each element and is judged on a scale from 1 to 10. The Final Score is an average of the Difficulty and Execution scores.
Conclusion
Gymnastics is a sport that requires immense strength, flexibility, endurance, and coordination. It’s no wonder that gymnasts are often considered some of the fittest athletes in the world.
If you’re looking for a fun and challenging way to get in shape, consider taking up artistic gymnastics. With practice and dedication, you’ll be able to achieve amazing feats of athleticism and grace.
