Everything You Need to Know Before Starting Rhythmic Gymnastics Part 1. What is Rhythmic Gymnastics?

Overview

Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG) is an all women sport, combining gymnastics, dance, and ballet with handheld apparatus such as hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and formerly rope.

There are two categories of RG, one is the individual category where one gymnast is on the carpet doing her own routine, the other is the group category, where five gymnasts perform a routine together. Specific traits of RG include extreme flexibility, balance, cardiovascular strength, and hand eye coordination. 

History

In the early 18th-19th century, RG evolved in Europe from group calisthenics, in combination with Swedish gymnastics and ideas of elegance and poise, pioneered by Per Henrik Ling, and Francois Delsarte and Georges Demeny respectively. In the 1940s -1950s, The Soviet Union made the discipline into a competitive sport for women. 

In the 1960s the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), now World Gymnastics Organization, recognized the sport in 1961 and the first World Championships was held in Budapest, Hungary, in 1963.

The individual all- around event became a part of the Olympic Games in LA 1984, and the group competition debuted at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Unlike other sports, the rules for RG are dictated by the Code of Points which change with every Olympic Cycle.

Routines and Events

In RG for individuals there are typically 4 events, the hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon. Each event has a routine which is one and a half minutes long, and they have a required amount of elements, masteries and risks. Elements are body difficulties which have three categories: turns, balances, and leaps. Masteries are small ‘tricks’ with 2 criteria like no hands, or high toss. Risks are where you basically chuck the apparatus and do 2 or more rotations underneath. 

Levels and Categories

In the US, rhythmic gymnastics has 7 levels. Please note the following ages are the typical ages, however you can be any age for any level until you reach FIG. There is pre-team level, which is made of 4-5 year olds, Level 4, 6-7 year olds, Level 5, 7-8 year olds, Level 6, 8-9 year olds, Level 7, 9-10, Level 8, 10-13, FIG is the highest level that follows the official code of points. There are two age categories in FIG gymnasts, 13-16 year olds are called juniors and 16+ year olds are called seniors. 

Competitions

In the U.S. there are many rounds of competitions that decide the national team. First is Classics, for Juniors there are western, middle, and eastern classics. For Seniors, there is just one Classic. Usually top 70% (?) makes it to the next round– don’t quote me on that the rules change every year. The next competition is called Elite Qualifiers. Again split for juniors and seniors, top 25 of each age group makes Elite Nationals, then some make regular Nationals, and the rest go home. At Nationals, or USA Gym Champs, you compete to make top 12 out of the 25 Elites, juniors and seniors both in their respective categories. 

At the start of every season there is also a competition called Rhythmic Challenge which determines who will be given ‘assignments’ which are international competitions. It’s usually based on whether they like you or not. Through international assignments the federation decides who is fit to represent Team USA at Pan American Championships or World Championships.

As for LA 28, the process to qualify includes getting top 18 at the World Championships in 2027, if a gymnast does not make it at world championships they can try again at their continentals. For example, the champion of each championship (Pan A

merican, European, Asian, Australian, African) can qualify for the Olympics. If you already earned a spot at World Championships, then you compete at a continental championship you will not take a spot at from your continent.