Olympic Gymnastics. Everything You Need to Know

Olympic gymnastics is a system of physical exercises that are aimed at strengthening health, improving moving abilities, and contributing to a balanced development of athletes. This sporting discipline is a good way to educate children. It is deservedly said to be the most important kind of sport that is quite beneficial to people’s health. That is why the given article is going to present the most useful information on Olympic gymnastics.

Equipment

Olympic gymnastics particular equipment depends on sizes and peculiarities of a gym. Nevertheless, the list of the most important and requested equipment looks in the following way:

• horizontal bars;
• parallel bars;
• pommel horses;
• rings;
• beams;
• gymnastic mats;
• and many others.

A special uniform should be chosen to increase gymnastics safety. This uniform should be perfect from a hygienic point of view, appealing from an aesthetic point of view, easily making clean, and it should also provide athletes with freedom and confidence of movements.

Special Judging Rules

Every Olympic gymnastics variation is governed by particular rules that must be followed by all the athletes. It is watched by corresponding officials.

Horse Vault

All the vaults should be performed by taking off from a perpendicularly placed pommel horse. However, this rule does not relate to free vaults. In final stages, athletes should perform two turning jumps that are evaluated on the 10-point system.

When it comes to free jumps, they are divided into five groups, and there is a special table of difficulty levels that contains judging guidelines. Thus, these groups are as follows:

• Group 1 straight vaults – 10-point system;
• Group 2 handspring vaults – 9.2-point system;
• Group 3 vaults around longitudinal axis – 9 or 10-point system;
• Group 4 vaults around horizontal axis – 10-point system;
• Group 5 various combinations of vaults – 10-point system.

Vaults of all these groups are evaluated according to particular criteria. That is why it is possible to deduct some points:

• a jump that is weaker than expected – up to 1.0 point;
• bent body – up to 0.5 points;
• bent or diluted legs;
• hands are on the rest for quite long – 0.2 points;
• a bit bent hands – 0.2 points;
• completely bent hands – up to 1.0 point;
• a low height – up to 1.5 points;
• not enough straightened body before landing – up 0.5 points;
• changing direction – up to 0.5 points;
• poor posture – up to 0.5 points;
• too early or late turn – 0.3 points;
• unfinished turn – 0.3 points.

Asymmetrical Parallel Bars

When creating free combinations, athletes should pay attention they should consist of necessary gymnastic elements, altering upper and lower bars, altering hanging and standing elements. In addition to that, it is reasonable to avoid stops in gymnastic elements. If athletes fall from the bars, they have 30 seconds to continue their performance. If they fail to do it within 30 seconds, their performance is said to be finished.

This kind of sport is also governed by particular rules, and every violation will then result in deducted points:

• fall – 0.5 points;
• an athlete removes one hand without additional support – 0.3 points;
• touching the ground – up to 0.5 points;
• repeating failed elements – 0.5 points;
• dismount while standing still – 0.4 points;
• improperly created combinations – up to 0.5 points;
• various stops and delays in a performance – 0.2 point each.

Beam

Combinations of acrobatic and gymnastics elements should comprise balancing elements, turns and spins, jumps and vaults, stepping combinations, acrobatic elements, and other elements of various natures. Furthermore, it is necessary to harmonically alter all these elements and use the whole beam length several times.

Difficult elements should be evenly distributed through the whole combination. Athletes are allowed to stop three times during their performance that should be 1.15-1.35 minutes long. Additionally, it is reasonable to alter combinations rhythm – from lively to slow ones. When athletes fall from the beam, they have the right to continue their performance only if they manage to do it within 10 seconds.

Points can be deducted in the following cases:

• fall – 0.5 points;
• athletes touch the beam with their hands to catch themselves – 0.5 points;
• athletes touch a side of the beam with their legs – 0.2 points;
• additional movements of the body to restore balance – up to 0.3 points;
• more than three stops – 0.2 points for each further stop;
• poor posture – 0.2 points;
• shorter performance – 0.05 points for each second;
• monotonous rhythm – 0.2-0.5 points.

Floor Exercise

This discipline consists of acrobatic and gymnastic elements and should include jumps (series of jumps), turns, various waving combinations, as well as balancing elements. It is necessary to meet the following requirements:

• at least 2 specific acrobatic combinations;
• harmonic altering elements of various moving structures;
• distributing complex elements throughout the whole performance;
• covering the whole surface of the mat;
• balance between music and performance;
• individual skills and technical superiority.

It is necessary to avoid rhythm disturbances. Rhythm variability increases the technical value and overall appeal from the performance. All the elements should be performed confidently, they should be wide, and athletes should be flexible enough. In addition, it is necessary to always remember of posture and expression. If an athlete fails to coordinate music and movements, points will be deducted. Besides, corresponding penalties will arise in the following cases:

• fall – 0.5 points;
• athletes use their one or two hands for support themselves – 0.5 points;
• athletes leave the borders of the mat with any parts of their bodies – 0.1 point for each time;
• absence of specific acrobatic combinations – 0.2 points for each;
• repeating failed elements – 0.5 points;
• rhythm mistakes – 0.2-0.5 points;
• improper music – 1.0 point;
• performance without music – 1.0 point;
• longer performances – 0.3 points;
• shorter performances – 0.05 points for each second required;
• the coach is on the mat – 0.5 points;
• the coach makes corresponding signals to help the athlete – 0.3 points.

Technique

The technique of every gymnastic exercise is developed with regard to anatomico-physiological and psychological peculiarities of an athlete and physical laws. Besides, it is necessary to pay attention to the items and their construction. A good combination can be created only if all these data are precisely identified and correctly analyzed.

To explain, these data provide coaches with the possibility to understand moving processes and predict possible technical mistakes and reasons for them to emerge. When it comes to implement exercises, it is necessary to pay attention to physical regularities that are influenced by the force of gravity, wind and friction resistance, as well as inertial resistance. To perform elements correctly, it is also important to properly use energy.

History

Olympic gymnastics officially appeared in the late 19th century. It was preceded by vaulting i.e. performing gymnastic elements on the table and horse, wall climbing, and balance exercises. They were extremely popular in the 16th-17th centuries.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) was established in 1881. This body builds international gymnastics contacts, organizes international competitions, including the World and European Championships. It develops the obligatory exercises and main rules that are to be followed by all the athletes.