Artistic Gymnastics

Artistic Gymnastics

Many consider gymnastics synonymous with the term artistic gymnastics. Gymnastics encompasses the skills involved in all different forms of gymnastics. In artistic gymnastics the competitor performs on different apparatus in a short routine. Women’s artistic gymnastics was first introduced to the Olympics as a team event in 1928 but didn’t enter into its modern format until 1952. The standard had been set by the 1950 World Championships. Men’s artistic gymnastics have been held since 1896, the year they were included in the Olympics. The modern men’s format has been in existence since 1932. It went through many variations, the World Championships for men included swimming and athletics until around 1954. Artistic gymnastics has become a fusion between a sport and an art. The grace with which many feats in the sport of gymnastics are expected to be formed much like a dancer.

Artistic Gymnastics Choreography

Choreography of gymnastics is an art within itself. Many teams will have a coach dedicated specifically to choreographing routines for its competitors. It is important to identify a coach’s experience and work history when considering enrollment in a particular program. While there are instructional videos available routines are highly personal and only a good coach can write routines to their student’s strengths. Modern gymnastics now requires that its competitors have fresh but consistent routines. Basic skills along with advanced should be displayed in a routine for a competitor to succeed. Some choreographers may come from different backgrounds. Dancers sometimes choreograph for theatre companies or outside of their specialty. Some gymnasts even used to be dancers at one time. When looking for a choreographer it is important for the coach or parent hiring them to investigate their methods and get good references. The right choreographer for a gymnastics setting will have a background in gymnastics but well versed in other disciplines. Having theatre and ballet type knowledge and experience is important as the fusion between disciplines will only continue in the future.

Artistic Gymnastics Interesting Facts

FAQs and statistics on gymnastics can be found throughout the internet. Gymnastics is considered one of the most watched sports in the summer Olympics and has the second highest number of participants next to the track and field events. Records in various events can be found on the internet. It is important to know that the Olympics do not recognize individual records for all sports and the Olympic record is not always the same as the World record. Gymnastics individual records are not kept, only the medal given out.