The Different Types of Gymnastics
When most people hear the word "gymnastics" they think of the most widely-known type
of gymnastics: women's gymnastics. This is most likely due to the fact that women's gymnastics
is one of the most watched summer Olympic sports due to its intense and impressive nature.
What many bystanders of the sport of gymnastics do not realize is that women's gymnastics is
not the only type of gymnastics. The definition of gymnastics according to Merriam-Webster is
"a competitive sport in which individuals perform optional and prescribed acrobatic feats mostly
on special apparatus in order to demonstrate strength, balance, and body control." Women's
gymnastics is the most widely known sport that fits into this description, but other types of
gymnastics that I will be introducing in this post include men's gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics,
and aerobic gymnastics.
of gymnastics: women's gymnastics. This is most likely due to the fact that women's gymnastics
is one of the most watched summer Olympic sports due to its intense and impressive nature.
What many bystanders of the sport of gymnastics do not realize is that women's gymnastics is
not the only type of gymnastics. The definition of gymnastics according to Merriam-Webster is
"a competitive sport in which individuals perform optional and prescribed acrobatic feats mostly
on special apparatus in order to demonstrate strength, balance, and body control." Women's
gymnastics is the most widely known sport that fits into this description, but other types of
gymnastics that I will be introducing in this post include men's gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics,
and aerobic gymnastics.
Women’s Gymnastics
Most people are knowledgeable on this type of gymnastics, but I am going to explain it so you
can compare it to the other 3 types of gymnastics I talk about. Women’s gymnastics consists of
4 events: the floor exercise, uneven bars, vault, and balance beam. These 4 events are very
different from each other and they require many different abilities and movements. Some gymnasts
are better at certain events than others which is why you do not see every gymnast in the Olympics
compete every event. Some compete “All Around,” meaning they complete all 4 events at a
competition and others will just compete one or two events, depending on what the team needs.
can compare it to the other 3 types of gymnastics I talk about. Women’s gymnastics consists of
4 events: the floor exercise, uneven bars, vault, and balance beam. These 4 events are very
different from each other and they require many different abilities and movements. Some gymnasts
are better at certain events than others which is why you do not see every gymnast in the Olympics
compete every event. Some compete “All Around,” meaning they complete all 4 events at a
competition and others will just compete one or two events, depending on what the team needs.
Each event is scored on a 10-point scale (with the exception of elite level gymnasts who can do
“bonus” skills to get a score higher than a 10). The highest score you can get on any event is a
10.0, making the highest all-around score a 40.0, which is extremely rare. Every event is different
in what judges take points off for but common deductions for all events include not pointing your
toes, bent legs, and falling on landings.
“bonus” skills to get a score higher than a 10). The highest score you can get on any event is a
10.0, making the highest all-around score a 40.0, which is extremely rare. Every event is different
in what judges take points off for but common deductions for all events include not pointing your
toes, bent legs, and falling on landings.
Men’s Gymnastics
Men’s gymnastics is not as widely-known as women’s gymnastics but a lot of people are still aware
of the sport. Men’s gymnastics is very similar to women’s in terms of scoring but the different event
in men’s gymnastics are very different. Their events include the floor exercise, pommel horse, still
rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. Men compete on 6 events while women compete on only 4
events. Depending on the level of gymnastics, each events requires different skills to be included in
the routine in order to get points. This is the same in women’s gymnastics.
of the sport. Men’s gymnastics is very similar to women’s in terms of scoring but the different event
in men’s gymnastics are very different. Their events include the floor exercise, pommel horse, still
rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. Men compete on 6 events while women compete on only 4
events. Depending on the level of gymnastics, each events requires different skills to be included in
the routine in order to get points. This is the same in women’s gymnastics.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is only a women’s sport and they compete in very different events than
women’s gymnastics. They have 5 events: ball, ribbon, hoop, clubs, and rope. All of these events
take place on the floor, unlike men and women’s gymnastics which requires bars, beams, etc. This
type of gymnastics is very closely tied to dance. Their routines combine elements of both ballet and
gymnastics and all of their routines are to music, unlike the other forms of gymnastics I have
explained already. This sport is also unique to the more popular types of gymnastics because
women can compete in groups of up to 6 people. This essentially makes a group dance, with
gymnastics elements laced in. The scoring system for this sport is also out of 10 points.
women’s gymnastics. They have 5 events: ball, ribbon, hoop, clubs, and rope. All of these events
take place on the floor, unlike men and women’s gymnastics which requires bars, beams, etc. This
type of gymnastics is very closely tied to dance. Their routines combine elements of both ballet and
gymnastics and all of their routines are to music, unlike the other forms of gymnastics I have
explained already. This sport is also unique to the more popular types of gymnastics because
women can compete in groups of up to 6 people. This essentially makes a group dance, with
gymnastics elements laced in. The scoring system for this sport is also out of 10 points.
Aerobic Gymnastics
This type of gymnastics is very similar to rhythmic gymnastics, except this sport is co-ed. You can
compete in groups of up to 6 with no specifications on which gender the group has to be. This sport
emphasizes strength, flexibility, and fitness instead of acrobatic and balance skills like in the other
forms of gymnastics. There are no specific events, it is just a floor routine with as an individual, pair,
trio, or group of up to 6 people. The teams typically do complex skills where they stack and flip each other, sort of like cheerleading. This sport is also scored on a 10 point system, but the scores are combined for groups of people competing together, so a trio would be out of 30 points.
compete in groups of up to 6 with no specifications on which gender the group has to be. This sport
emphasizes strength, flexibility, and fitness instead of acrobatic and balance skills like in the other
forms of gymnastics. There are no specific events, it is just a floor routine with as an individual, pair,
trio, or group of up to 6 people. The teams typically do complex skills where they stack and flip each other, sort of like cheerleading. This sport is also scored on a 10 point system, but the scores are combined for groups of people competing together, so a trio would be out of 30 points.
As you now know, there are many different types of gymnastics. Although women's gymnastics is the most widely known, these other forms of gymnastics are just as exciting.
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