Rhythmic gymnastics

Rhythmic gymnastics is a style of gymnastics that blends competitive dancing with gymnastic floor routines. Rhythmic gymnastics routines are performed on an open floor to pre-chosen musical pieces. The routine is expected to be graceful, artistic, and technically difficult.

Unlike other gymnastics styles, rhythmic gymnastics does not involve the use of stationary props. Instead, rhythmic gymnasts use various objects in their routines. Competitors may use hoops, clubs, ribbons, or ropes to increase the difficulty and artistry of their routine.

Background

Organized gymnastics began as physical conditioning for soldiers in ancient Greece. Speed, strength, and flexibility are all built by routine gymnastic exercise, and all were valuable tools on the ancient battlefield. For this reason, the study of gymnastics was mandatory for all Greek soldiers before going to war. The Greeks built large buildings called gymnasiums, which were filled with equipment used to practice gymnastics. Over time, gymnasiums developed into general Greek schools, where art and music were practiced along with physical exercise.

These traditions continued for thousands of years, spreading across the world as they evolved. In the early eighteenth century, physical educators began to turn historic gymnastic practices into a modern sport. They agreed on a set of devices designed to help students learn specific techniques. These devices included the balance beam, the high bars, the pommel horse, and the vaulting table.

Eventually, students began to compete on these various devices. They composed routines that showcased their fitness, balance, and coordination. Judges decided which routine was performed best and declared that student the winner. In 1891, the International Gymnastics Federation was formed to regulate gymnastic competitions. Soon afterward, gymnastics was included as an official Olympic sport.

In the following decades, several styles of gymnastics evolved. For this reason, the governing bodies of gymnastics decided to standardize which events would be practiced at high levels of competition. They split gymnastics competitions into men's and women's categories. The routines in these competitions included the floor exercise, the rings, the vault, and many other events. Most events were practiced both by individual competitors and by teams.

One competition, rhythmic gymnastics, evolved from traditional gymnastics in the twentieth century. It involved performing athletic feats in time with a musical track, combining traditional gymnastics with competitive dancing. The International Gymnastics Federation recognized it in 1962, and it became an Olympic sport in 1984. Unlike traditional gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics is a women-only event.

Overview

In addition to being a women-only event, rhythmic gymnastics differs from traditional gymnastics in several key ways. Firstly, rhythmic gymnasts are expected to perform in time with a musical piece of their choosing. The musical piece is considered part of their routine, and it is carefully chosen before the routine is choreographed. Competitors are expected to move in a graceful, well-timed, and emotionally expressive fashion. In this way, they are judged similarly to competitive dancers.

Unlike competitive dancers, rhythmic gymnasts are required to perform many of the same feats found in a traditional gymnastic floor routine. They are expected to execute jumps, leaps, and other gymnastic acts with the same precision as traditional gymnasts. However, unlike other gymnasts, rhythmic gymnasts are expected to utilize different types of props in their routines. While lower levels of rhythmic gymnastics competitions may allow competitors to enter without the use of props, all high-level competition requires them.

The International Gymnastics Federation regulates the types of props allowed in high-level rhythmic gymnastics competitions. One of the most common objects used in rhythmic gymnastics is a rubber or plastic ball. The ball must weigh at least 0.8 pounds (400 grams), and it must have a diameter between 7.1 and 7.8 inches (18 and 20 centimeters). Gymnasts throw the ball into the air and catch it with their arms or legs. It can also be rolled across the gymnast's body or spun in place.

Rhythmic gymnastics ribbons are long colored ribbons attached to a rigid stick. They are used to create flowing, geometric patterns in the air around the gymnast as she dances. The ribbon must be kept moving, creating circular patterns, waves, and figure eights. If the ribbon ever falls limp, the gymnast will be penalized.

A pair of matched clubs may also be used in rhythmic gymnastics. Often made from wood, the clubs are very similar to juggling clubs. Gymnasts spin and twirl these clubs in a variety of styles and directions. They also throw the clubs into the air and catch them in a dramatic fashion.

Some rhythmic gymnasts choose to perform with a hoop. The hoop's diameter and weight are closely regulated at major competitions. Gymnasts roll the hoop along the ground, spin it on various body parts, throw the hoop, catch the hoop, and move through the hoop.

The final prop allowed by rhythmic gymnastics associations is the rope. Often made of hemp, the rope must be proportional to the size of the gymnast. Ropes are used in many of the same ways as ribbons. However, gymnasts may also skip the rope, throw the rope, catch the rope, and jump through the rope.

Olympic gymnasts are scored in several categories. The first score is the execution score. Other categories include difficulty and artistry. The execution score functions like most other gymnastic competitions. It starts at ten points and set amounts are deducted for infractions. A perfect ten means that a judge felt that the performance was flawless.

When scoring, judges carefully study several aspects of a performance. They check the gymnast's control of her chosen prop, awarding points for difficult maneuvers and deducting points for dropped or mishandled props. They study the gymnast's flexibility and form, ensuring that leaps, turns, splits, and other complicated maneuvers were executed correctly. Finally, they study the uniqueness and expressiveness of the routine. A perfect rhythmic gymnastics routine should be emotional and artistic as well as technically difficult.

Bibliography

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"History of Rhythmic Gymnastics." Olympics, www.olympic.org/rhythmic-gymnastics-equipment-and-history. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

"Olympic Gymnastics: Rhythmic Gymnastics Rules and Judging." Liveabout.com, 4 Nov. 2019, www.liveabout.com/olympic-gymnastics-rhythmic-gymnastics-rules-1714911. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

"Rhythmic Gymnastics 101: Olympic Equipment." NBC Olympics, 15 Apr. 2024, www.nbcolympics.com/news/rhythmic-gymnastics-101-equipment. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

“Rhythmic Gymnastics 101: Olympic History, Records and Results.” NBC Olympics, 15 Apr. 2024, www.nbcolympics.com/news/rhythmic-gymnastics-101-olympic-history-records-and-results. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

"Rhythmic Gymnastics 101: Olympic Scoring, Rules and Regulations." NBC Olympics, 16 Apr. 2024, www.nbcolympics.com/news/rhythmic-gymnastics-101-olympic-scoring-rules-and-regulations. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.