Artistic gymnastics is a branch of general gymnastics which is characterized by being practiced by both men and women in a wide variety of devices or, failing that, on a surface with a special design for the practice of said discipline, it is one of the most important Olympic sports and was included as such in 1896 although by then it was only practiced by men.
Athletes, both male and female, are characterized by having excellent flexibility, mobility, strength and muscular coordination, which regardless of training, these are extremely important tools for gymnasts since their success depends on it. The training and preparation that gymnasts must carry out during their life to have an optimal level during competitions is divided into stages.
During the first stage, which covers the first 10 years of the athlete's life, it is when the physical capacities that the athlete possesses are known, during this period the technical foundations of artistic gymnastics are taught. In the second stage, a period is established where a special initial preparation is carried out for the gymnasts, after which more complex movements and combinations are trained, this whole stage can range from 10 to 15 years of the gymnast. Finally, there is the stage that goes from 16 to 19 years of age and in which all the knowledge acquired so far and the physical preparation are perfected, in addition to this, movement training of great complexity is continued.
The apparatus may vary depending on the category the gymnast represents (male and female).In the male category the apparatus are the following:
- Colt jump: it is the shortest test and consists of jumping on a platform arranged at the end of a 25 meter long track, this is done with the help of a trampoline that is just before the colt. The athlete must perform jumps and pirouettes while in the air.
- Floor: a routine must be carried out by the athlete that contains turns, jumps and pirouettes of great difficulty, all this on a track measuring 12 by 12 meters.
- Rings: these are two rings that are arranged on a surface, these are 2.75 meters from the ground, the athlete must hold the rings and perform movement of force and control.
- Fixed bar: the athlete must perform balance and strength movement by grasping a bar that is 2.8 meters above the ground with their hands, performing turns and acrobatics.
- Arched horse: it is a structure shaped like an animal in which there are two assembled arches. This structure is arranged at a height of 1.6 meters, the gymnast must perform circular movement of the legs, must take the rings with his hands.
- Parallel bars: the gymnast must perform acrobatics on two bars that are at a distance of 1.75 meters high, both bars must be used by the athlete.
For its part, in the female branch, the devices are the following:
- Balance beam: the athletes must perform acrobatics and dance movements that include at least two flight pirouettes, all this on a platform 1 dm wide and 5 meters long.
- Asymmetric bars: they are two bars, the smallest one is arranged on the ground at a height between 1.4 and 1.6 meters high and the largest consists of 2.4 meters in height with a separation between the two of 1 meter, the routines that The gymnasts perform must be continuous and must alternate between one bar and another performing movements of strength and balance.
- The floor and jumping of the colt are the other two disciplines practiced by the female gender and have the same characteristics as in the male branch.
