| Gymnastics has existed for more than 2,000 | | | | background that enhances dance movements. |
| years, but its development as a modern | | | | The gymnasts perform using apparatus such as |
| competitive sport began about 100 years ago. It | | | | ropes, hoops, balls, clubs and ribbons. This |
| was first introduced in the school systems of U.S. | | | | competition takes place individually or in teams of |
| in the 1830's. The first women's gymnastics | | | | five. Competitors are awarded points by a team |
| instruction in the United States was given at | | | | of judges for leaps, balances, pivots, flexibility, |
| Mount Holyoke College in 1862. In 1928, after | | | | apparatus handling and artistic effect. |
| gymnastics became an Olympic sport, many | | | | Aerobics is also a form of sports gymnastics. It |
| women began to compete at the Olympic level. | | | | involves physical exercises that are done to the |
| U.S. women first competed at an international | | | | accompaniment of music. It requires a performer |
| level in the gymnastics discipline at the 1936 | | | | to possess staying power, strength, flexibility, |
| Olympic games, in Berlin, Germany. | | | | coordination and tact. |
| There are many other international events of | | | | Sport acrobatics is performed in pairs or groups |
| gymnastics where women from all around the | | | | on the floor, or individually on a tumble run. The |
| world actively participate and win medals for their | | | | gymnasts perform a floor routine to music |
| countries. Gymnastics as a sport boosts their | | | | consisting of balance and tempo elements, as well |
| morale, besides keeping them astonishingly fit. | | | | as individual acrobatics elements |
| Women gymnasts typically start training at a | | | | Women's gymnastics is a sport requiring strength, |
| very young age and reach their peak in their late | | | | flexibility, coordination and grace. Consequently, |
| teens or early twenties. They participate in | | | | aesthetics play an important part in the judgment |
| several forms of gymnastics such as artistic, | | | | of a competitive gymnastic performance. |
| rhythmic, trampoline and tumbling and sports | | | | Unfortunately, the emphasis on slimness and |
| gymnastics. | | | | appearance encourages many gymnasts to focus |
| Women's artistic gymnastic competitions consist | | | | on their weight and caloric intake. This practice is |
| of vault, balance beam, uneven bars and floor | | | | of concern to many trainers and lovers of the |
| exercises. The competitors perform short | | | | sport, because it can lead to an insufficient energy |
| routines, ranging from approximately 10 to 90 | | | | intake and deficiencies in essential micronutrients |
| seconds on different apparatus. They are then | | | | such as calcium. It is advisable that women |
| graded on a score from 0 to 10 based on | | | | gymnasts pay attention to their overall health and |
| whether the performance contained certain | | | | flexibility to be able to compete and win at the |
| required movements. Rhythmic gymnastics is | | | | highest level of the sport. |
| meant for women. Floor music is played in the | | | | |