gymnastics rhythmic - Education Program

HISTORY OF RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS
GYMNASTICS
RHYTHMIC
The appearance of Rhythmic Gymnastics dates to the end of
the nineteenth century, through ideas that developed on the
expression of movement and the development of rhythm. As a
competitive discipline, Rhythmic Gymnastics began in the
former Soviet Union in the 1940s.
Performing with the hoop
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) recognised the
new discipline in 1961, while the first World Championship for
individual contestants was staged in Budapest in 1963.
The group events were introduced in the competition schedule in 1967, at the World
Championships held in Copenhagen.
Rhythmic Gymnastics was introduced as an official Olympic discipline in the 1984 Los Angeles
Olympic Games program, while the first group competition was introduced twelve years later,
in 1996, at the Atlanta Olympic Games.
Rhythmic Gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games
Rhythmic Gymnastics first appeared at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 in Auckland, New
Zealand. At the 1994 Games in Vancouver, Canada, Australian Kasumi Takahashi won all five
individual gold medals in Rhythmic Gymnastics.
ABOUT RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS
Rhythmic gymnasts compete on a floor area of 13m square. A
balanced composition is achieved between the gymnast, the
apparatus and the music, plus required difficulties. The
apparatus must be used in both hands, thrown into the air
and kept in constant motion. Rhythmic gymnasts also
compete in levels 1–10 or in an international stream.
There are five apparatus in Rhythmic Gymnastics:
Performing with the ball
o Balls o Club
o Hoop o Ribbon
o Rope
Ball
The ball must rest in the gymnast's hand and not against the
wrist. The elements include rolling, throwing and bouncing.
The gymnast must use both hands while showing continuous
flowing movement over the whole floor area.
Performing with the ball
STARTING BLOCKS © State of Victoria, 2004 2