Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a sport where athletes perform exercises and routines. Gymnasts must show how strong they are, how flexible they are, how much power their bodies have, how balanced they are, how coordinated they are, and how gracefully they can move.

What is physical strength? Gymnasts must have a strong body and strong muscles to perform gymnastics.

What is flexibility? Gymnasts must be able to move the body in a variety of ways.

What is power? Gymnasts are strong enough to complete a gymnastic move.

What is agility? Gymnasts can move quickly and easily.

What is coordination? Gymnasts can move smoothly and show good timing of their moves.

What is balance? Gymnasts must control their bodies and their weight so they do not fall.

Joke Which fruit is best at gymnastics?
The banana - it can do splits.

Women perform routines on the uneven bars, the balance beam, the floor, and the vault.

Men perform floor exercises, as well as routines on the pommel horse, the still rings, the vault, the parallel bars, and the high bar.

Did you know...? Most major gymnasts start their career at the age of 2 or 3 years old!

To perform the vault, gymnasts run as fast as possible down an 82-foot runway, hop onto a springboard, land on the horse with their hands, then spring off the platform and land on two feet without falling. The dismount should be perfect so the feet are together.


In 2001, the vaulting horse changed. The new equipment was a tongue or table. It was wider, longer, so it was also safer for gymnasts. Gymnasts could try more challenging or advanced vaults.

Joke What do gymnasts use to flavor their food?
Somersault.

The uneven bars are two horizontal bars where one bar is higher than the other bar. Gymnasts use a springboard or a small mat to get up on the bars.

The gymnast performs a routine that includes different moves like swinging and circling. The gymnast does many moves. They can move over or under the bars, and they can swing between the uneven bars. The gymnast does a final trick and dismounts on to the mat.