8.

GYMNASTICS
The word gymnastics derives from the common Greek adjective (gymnos)
meaning "naked". It is related to the verb whose meaning is "to train naked". The
verb had this meaning, because athletes exercised and competed without clothing.
Gymnastics dates back to ancient Greece. It included activities like jumping, running,
discus throwing, wrestling, boxing and others involving the use of sling(=), the
spear(=), the bow() and the arrow(=).
It also included methods for mounting and dismounting horses and a variety of circus
performance skills(acrobatics). The time spent on gymnastics was equal to the time spent on
music or art.
As the Roman Empire ascended, Greek gymnastics turned into military training. Then for
centuries, gymnastics and any kind of sport was forgotten.
Later it was included in the first modern Olympics in 1896,in Athens. At first all
participants were male. It was 1928 when the first participation of women took place.
Gymnastics is a sport that involves exercises which require:
Physical strength
Flexibility
Agility
Coordination
Balance
In this sport the athletes perform acrobatic feats(= ) such as
leaps(=) flips(=), turns(=) e.t.c. on a piece of apparatus(=),
such as a balance beam(= ) or with a piece of apparatus such as a
ribbon(=) or a rope in order to demonstrate strength, body control or balance.
There are three types of gymnastics:
1. Artistic gymnastics: it is the most well-known type where men and women compete
on uneven bars, parallel bars and rings
2. Rhythmic gymnastics, where gymnasts compete on the floor mat but they use
ribbons, ropes or hoops(=).
3. Trampoline where gymnasts perform flips and twists on a trampoline.

1. ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

There are eight events in the mens gymnastic competition:

1.The floor exercises

4. horse vault

2.side or pommel horse

5.parallel bars

3.rings

6. horizontal bar

7. team competition
8. individual combined exercises.

There are six events in the womens gymnastic competition:

1. vaulting horse

2.uneven bars

3.balance beam

4.floor exercises

5.team competition
6.individual combined exercises

2. RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS
In rhythmic gymnastics the athletes perform with equipment and they are judged on
their grace , dance ability and coordination. The performer must also carry out the exercises
with confidence without the slight hesitation that may cause them deduction of points.

It was officially recognized in 1962 and added as an Olympic sport in 1984. Olympic
rhythmic gymnastics has only female participants . The apparatus used may be any color except
gold, silver or bronze.
The events in rhythmic gymnastics are :
1. Floor exercises : the athletes perform the skills( leaps(=), turns(),
jumps) without the use of any equipment. The difference between the floor
exercises in artistic gymnastics is that there are no flipping(= ) skills
performed here .

Floor exercises

2. The rope : it is made of hemp(=) or

synthetic fibre(= ) and it is
proportional(=) to the height of the
athlete.

3.The hoop (=) : it is made of wood or

plastic with a diameter of 80-90 cm

4. The clubs (=) : they are made of wood

or synthetic material with a length of 40-50 cm.

5. The ribbon: (=): it is made of satin

and it is attached to a stick made of wood or
synthetic material. It is 5-6 metres long

6. the ball : it is made of rubber or synthetic

material with a diameter of 18-20 cm

Gymnasts learn how to compete by competing. This is a long process. They must deal
with pressure, crowds, distractions(=), travel, jet lag, lack of sleep, unfamiliar
equipment or inconsistent judging(=, ). This takes time and
experience.

THE BENEFITS OF GYMNASTICS

v Good health
v Commitment and discipline. Children learn that commitment to sport benefits
them and they learn the importance of respecting the rules for safety. They also
build their confidence through achievement and hard work.
v Coordination and balance. They learn how to use different parts of their body in
different ways.
v Strength. Children get stronger through regular training and that helps them
develop toned muscles and better posture .

SOME BASIC FLOOR

EXERCISES

Flic flac

handspring

forward roll

headstand

Backward roll

cartwheel

splits

bridge