Gymnastics is arguably one of the world's oldest sports. It is also a very natural sport involving activities that people would normally do outside gym class or gymnastic competitions such as jumping, running, climbing, swinging and tumbling. Modern gymnastics as a sport involves the performance of a series of movements. These activities and movements require flexibility, physical strength and kinesthetic awareness. Most of the movements involved developed from the many fitness exercises that soldiers in Ancient Greece used. Gymnastics is also considered a somewhat difficult and dangerous sport because gymnasts are constantly exposed to injury. Gymnastics today is a sport that has six different disciplines: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, sports aerobics, sports acrobatics, trampoline work, and general gymnastics. Among these disciplines, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics are the two most popular and is part of the Summer Olympic Games held every four years. Rhythmic gymnastics on the other hand is performed mostly by women athletes and involves apparatus such as ball, hoop, club, ribbon and rope. Sports aerobics focuses on flexibility, strength and fitness while trampoline work uses equipment called a trampoline. Gymnastic events are typically divided into men's and women's. Men's events include floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar. Meanwhile, women's events include the vault, uneven bars, balance beams and floor. General gymnastics involves the performance of choreographed and synchronized routines by a larger group of people of all ages. Aside from being one of the world's major sports, gymnastics is also a sport that many people, regardless of age or ability can try. It is a great sport that can teach important values such as independence and self-discipline. Gymnastics also builds strength and enhances physical flexibility and agility. Gymnastics is also a great sport for children because it develops a healthy mind and body. |
