Gymnasts

Gymnastics is a demanding sport for both male and female gymnasts. A boy gymnast needs to master the parallel bars, the rings, the vault, the pommel horse and horizontal; girl gymnasts need to master the vault, the uneven bars and the balance beam. All young gymnasts need to learn how to perform to perfection the floor exercise. To be good, gymnasts have to practice, learning, first the basics. The fundamentals taught a young gymnast will hold them in good stead, even if they leave the sport. Many athletes use gymnastic moves to enhance their sport. Cheerleaders, tumblers, acrobats and trampolinists utilize gymnast moves. A rhythmic gymnast forgoes the gymnastic apparatus of horse, vault, rings and bar for portable ones, but includes the basic aspects of gymnastics.

It is not unusual to see young gymnasts as part of a program for tots at gymnastic academies of clubs. A little gymnast can learn the fundamentals in a young tykes’ class. These basic or core skills include forward and backward rolls, handstands and cartwheels. It is essential for all beginner gymnasts to master the basics, including safety drill landings. It is also important to practice physical conditioning.

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Physical conditioning, whether you are a junior gymnast, a preteen gymnast or an international gymnast, involves the skills of flexibility and strength. If they wish to remain flexible, gymnasts need to practice regularly. Flexibility is obtained through warm-ups and stretching. If a gymnast does not warm up and stretch before trying to do such exercises as a back bend, flip, right splits or middle splits, he or she can tear the muscle fibers. A famous gymnast such as Nadia Comaneci or Mary Lou Retton always started their gymnastic practices with warm-ups followed by stretches and strength conditioning. Team USA gymnasts are no different. Why then would junior gymnasts ignore this approach? It is fundamental to achieving success in any competition.

While this aspect of gymnastic training may not feature as prominently among speeches by gymnasts at banquets or award ceremonies, it should. Coaches and athletes know you have to warm up first then stretch before you attempt to work on the rest of your body. If you want to be the best, you have to work hard. Playing comes later. Practice is always first.

School also figures into the equation for many young gymnasts. For those obsessed with the sport, you should remember a truly amazing gymnasts is one who plans for life after they eave the mat behind. Few famous gymnasts have ever made money from their sport.