The Grace And Agility Of Gymnastics
By Allana Korbasti
People love to watch gymnasts perform their fluid and athletic movements, making it one of the most loved sports in the world. Many youths join clubs dreaming of being the next Olympic gold medal winner. People sit eagerly in front of their TVs to watch the competitions. Only a few of us can actually get up on a balance beam and perform graceful flips.

Gymnastics is based on a Greek type of ancient exercise. At most competitions there are both men's and women's events. The men's events are parallel bars, rings, side horse, vaulting horse, horizontal bar, and floor exercise. Women's events are balance beam, vaulting horse, uneven bars, and floor exercise.

The main focus for men's events is upper body strength. The rings are probably the hardest since the gymnast has to hold himself up on suspended rings, and work certain movements at the same time. In women's events strength is of course a big part of the work, but being graceful and flexible are the main components. When we look at athletes performing on the balance beam we are generally in awe. Most of us couldn't do what they do even on the floor.

The most popular event to watch is the Olympics. Millions of people from every nation watch their Olympic gymnastic team vie for the top spot in the entire world. In the United States, their athletes are quite often one of the top three, and more often then not gold medal winners. Many past gold medal winners, especially women, become America's sweetheart for several years thereafter.

This is a sport that needs to be taken up when you are very young. Parents need to take their children to clubs and classes early when their bodies are agile and flexible. These children can be molded and trained into good gymnasts. Most cities all over America have several clubs that you can choose from. Some clubs offer classes that are just oriented towards fun, while some are more serious gearing children towards a professional life.

Another type of that was introduced in recent years

is rhythmic gymnastics. Rhythmic makes use of five objects: rope, ball, clubs, ribbon, and hoop. One gymnast can compete using all of the objects, or there can be teams of five. Only women compete in rhythmic gymnastic competitions, and it is fascinating and captivating to watch.

A recent addition as a sport to the Summer Olympics roster has been Trampolining. Trampolining requires competitors to accomplish specific moves, which are then judged. This too is now carried out as a team event with two members in sync.

Since children need to start training for a professional career at a young age, their maturity as a competing professional is also reached at an early age. Most professional gymnasts reach their peak in their teens or very early twenties. For a professional gymnast, the entire life is centered around the sport and they need to train all seven days in a week.

If you ever have a chance to see a live performance, don't miss it. You won't believe the beauty, grace and athleticism involved in this wonderfully entertaining sport.

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