We explain what artistic gymnastics is, its history and characteristics. In addition, we tell you what the apparatus it uses are like.
What is artistic gymnastics?
Artistic gymnastics (formerly Olympic gymnastics) is a sporting discipline, often considered a branch of gymnastics, whose practice consists of a series of rhythmic and acrobatic movements, using different gymnastic apparatus, to demonstrate the flexibility, coordination, strength, balance and agility of the athlete. Practitioners of this discipline are known as gymnasts.
Unlike other forms of gymnastics, artistic gymnastics is intended to produce an aesthetic effect during the 30 to 90 seconds of movements it involves, that is, it seeks to ensure that the movements are not only coordinated and correct, but also elegant, striking, beautiful. Hence, it is compared to an artistic practice. You must read about Rhythmic Gymnastics once.
This type of gymnastics is practiced by both men and women, either in groups or individually, and is part of the Olympic disciplines, that is, those that are practiced at the International Olympic Games every 4 years. The body that internationally regulates the practice of artistic gymnastics is the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) based in Moutier, Switzerland.
Characteristics of artistic gymnastics
In general, artistic gymnastics is characterized by the following:
- It is practiced by professional athletes, called gymnasts, in individual or group competitions for both the female and male gender. The most important competitions are part of the International Olympic Games (Olympic Games).
- Artistic gymnastics practices usually last between 30 seconds and a minute and a half, and consist of a series of agile, coordinated and balanced movements on a surface of regulation measurements, using gymnastic devices such as the uneven bars, the balance beam, the pommel horse, the rings, the high bar, the pommel horse and the parallel bars.
- The task of the gymnasts is to perform the movements in the most elegant, precise, coordinated and effective way possible. The aesthetic aspect is fundamental in the evaluation of these performances, for which a format of 1 to 10 is used.
History of artistic gymnastics
The origins of gymnastics are remote in the history of humanity. The ancient Greeks already practiced it, as part of the military preparation of soldiers, and in times of peace for Olympic purposes.
However, the origin of artistic gymnastics itself dates back to the 19th century, specifically to 1811, and is owed to Professor Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778-1852), of the German Institute in Berlin. Jahn created the first open-air space for the practice of this discipline, and designed the first gymnastic apparatus, which the current ones are inspired by.
The success of this new gymnastics spread throughout Germany and allowed the founding of various gymnastics clubs, which earned Jahn the title of “modern father of gymnastics”.
The consolidation of this sporting practice took place in 1881, with the founding of the European Gymnastics Federation, an organization that was later called the International Gymnastics Federation. This was a previous step for the acceptance of this sport in the first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896. At that time, artistic gymnastics and athletic competition formed a common set.
From the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928 onwards, women were included in gymnastics competitions. In 1952, artistic gymnastics was formalised as a strictly sporting discipline, independent in all aspects. So much so that in 1975 the World Cup of Artistic Gymnastics was held for the first time. Maybe you should definitely read about Thermal Sensation once.
Gymnastic apparatus
Today’s gymnastic apparatus is inspired by the designs created by Jahn in the 19th century, and varies in the female and male categories as follows:
Men’s category apparatus
- Rings: These are two rings with an internal diameter of 18 cm, hanging 2.75 metres from the ground, separated by a distance of 50 cm. Gymnasts must climb the apparatus and demonstrate their balance, strength and poise, doing different pirouettes. The less the ropes of the rings shake, the better the score obtained.
- Fixed bar: This is a bar 2.40 metres long, placed 2.80 metres from the ground on top of a metal structure, on which the gymnast must perform a series of acrobatics, demonstrating balance and strength. The score will be higher as long as the movements are organic and not improvised.
- The pommel horse: This is a 1.15-metre-high, 1.60-metre-long and 35-cm-wide apparatus, shaped like a horse, with two transverse rings on its back. Holding onto the rings, the gymnast must perform circular and pendulum-like pirouettes with his legs, without stopping and without touching the apparatus with his legs.
- The parallel bars: These are two parallel bars, 3.5 metres long, suspended at a height of 1.75 metres and separated by 42 centimetres, on which the gymnast must perform different strength exercises, such as handstands and full-body turns, holding on only with his hands.
- The vault: This is a 1.35-metre-high apparatus, placed at the end of a 25-metre-long track and next to a springboard. The gymnast must take a run and jump over the vault with the help of the springboard, keeping both feet together and placing both hands on the vault, in order to land two metres or more from the apparatus. There are two opportunities to do so.
- The floor: This is the floor of the competition arena, covered with elastic material forming a surface of 12 square metres. The gymnast has between 50 and 70 seconds to perform a series of gymnastic and acrobatic movements without interruption.
Women’s apparatus
- The uneven bars: These are two bars suspended at different levels, one between 140 and 160 centimetres high, the other between 235 and 240 centimetres, separated by a distance of between 1 and 1.43 metres. The gymnasts must perform a series of pirouettes in 30 seconds, moving between the two bars, building a pattern that culminates in a final acrobatic jump.
- The balance beam: This is a solid bar placed at a height of 1.2 metres, 10 centimetres wide and 5 metres long. On it, the gymnasts must perform a series of balance and agility acrobatics, having between 70 and 90 seconds to do so. The score depends largely on whether the exercise looks as if it were performed on the floor and not on a narrow surface, for which it must be performed in an uninterrupted, harmonious and concatenated manner. If the gymnast falls off the bar, he has 10 seconds to return to his place and continue the exercise.
- The vault: This is the same apparatus as in the men’s category, arranged in the same way: 120 centimetres high, 35 centimetres wide and 160 centimetres long, located next to a springboard at the end of a 25-metre long track.
- The floor: This is the floor, which is covered with an elastic material that protects against falls, over an area of 12 square metres. The gymnast has between 70 and 90 seconds to perform a gymnastic routine with fluidity, grace and coordination, which usually includes somersaults and changes of direction and level of movement.
Artistic gymnastics modalities
Artistic gymnastics is typically practiced in three different modalities:
All-around individual competition
Where each gymnast demonstrates their skills on the set of available apparatus, and the score obtained on each one is added up to generate an overall qualifying average.
Individual apparatus finals
Where the best gymnast on each specific apparatus is chosen, chosen from the top 8 in the overall individual competition, that is, those with the highest scores.
Team competition
Where the gymnasts of each team must participate together. These teams are also chosen based on their performance in the overall individual competition.
