There are many different types of gymnastics. There are men and women’s artistic, rhythmic, trampoline, and acrobatics.
Women’s artistic gymnastics is the most well-known, with men’s artistic coming in second. The idea for both is the same, athletes performing short gymnastics routines.
However, men and women use different equipment. The men utilize the floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. Women use the uneven bars, vault, balance beam, and floor.
The reason the apparatus for men and women differentiate is because men and women are built differently.
Men utilize their upper body strength more than the women do, therefore they have more upper body events. Men also have larger body builds which makes it more difficult for them to do the events that women can do with ease.
Another type of gymnastics is rhythmic. Rhythmic gymnastics consists of female athletes who compete using ribbons, large hoops that look like hula hoops, and small balls and batons to toss around while performing.
“Rhythmic gymnastics is my favorite because it looks neat and like a lot of fun when I see it on TV,” said Molly Hayes, 10.
The trampoline is when gymnasts do their gymnastics routines on a trampoline. Sometimes these athletes will pair off and perform their routines synchronously.
“Trampoline is probably the most fun to watch. It’s amazing how the athletes can be so synchronized when they perform,” Hayes said.
Finally, the last type of gymnastics is acrobatic. Gymnasts use each other to perform and flip each other as well.
“I respect anyone who can do acrobatic gymnastics because of the upper body strength needed,” said Maggie McDowell, 10.