Sports Acrobatics

Sports acrobatics is both a recent and an ancient sport. It has always been integral to a variety of sports from diving to figure skating to gymnastics. Sports acrobatic is also called “tumbling,” “adagio,” “hand-balancing,” “pyramid building,” “acrogymnastics” and, simply, “acro.”

Acrobatic gymnastics stems from the Greek word “akrobatos” for “to climb” or “to rise.” The Chinese, Greeks, Romans and Egyptians had forms of acrobatics for training and amusement. The sport, however, did not really emerge until the Middle Ages when acrobatic performers roamed the countryside and performed at local fairs and courts.

In the 18th century, the circus, with various acrobatic tricks, offered increased exposure. During the late 19th century, the entertainment of acrobatics developed into a sport. It became a competitive sport in 1939 in Russia. Acrobatics history includes the international competition in Poland in 1957. In 1973, the International Federation of Sports Acrobats (IFSA) came into existence. At this point, the best acrobats with the most amazing acrobatic flips and acrobatic lifts were the Russians and the Chinese. The founding of the IFSA was followed, in 1976, by the formation United States Sports Acrobatics (USSA).

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The International Olympic Committee recognized acrobatics as a sport in 1987. Today, it is an Olympic demonstration sport. Since 1999, it falls under the mantle of the International Gymnastics Federation or FIG after FIG absorbed the IFSA. USA gymnastics is also a governor of the sport since it took in USSA as an associate.

The sport, itself, consists of five disciplines with three, 2.30-minute routines done in women’s pairs, men’s pairs, mixed pairs, women’s trios and four-men. Musical accompaniment is a requirement of this sport. Acrobatic gymnasts perform, on a mat, a variety of elements including an acrobatics lift, pyramid structures and other pair or group elements. The gymnasts must hold the pyramid pattern for three seconds. Acrobatic pictures tend to show this element of acrobatic sports more than any other aspect of the routine. The sport, however, does have individual elements and includes them as the gymnasts weave intricate patterns to the music building towards the erection of a human pyramid. The pair’s routine, for example, must consist of a minimum of six partner-balance components. Of these elements, the gymnasts must freeze at least three of them for three seconds. In another routine, a gymnast must exhibit complete trust in their partner as he or she throws them.

Sports acrobatics is an unusual, but interesting development in the gymnastic world. Acrobatic supplies, including costumes and music, are readily available at the same shops catering to artistic gymnastics.