One of the most spectacular and beautiful sports is sports acrobatics. Competitions in it are more reminiscent of bright and spectacular circus performances than just the implementation of some kind of standard program. This sport consists in performing some acrobatic exercises, including those related to maintaining balance and rotating the body with or without support.
From the history of sports acrobatics
Sports acrobatics took shape as an independent sport in 1932. This happened at the 10th Olympic Games, when acrobatic jumping for men entered the program of gymnastics competitions as a separate sport. After that, acrobatics competitions began to be held in various countries: the USA, Great Britain, etc. In the USSR, acrobatics separated from gymnastics only in the late 1930s - the first championship was held in 1939.
Among women, competitions began to be held in 1940, and the first youth competitions were held in 1951. The first world champions in sports acrobatics in the individual competition were identified at the World Championships in Moscow in 1974. They were 13 athletes from the USSR. And the first World Cup was played a year later in Switzerland.
Now the International Federation of Acrobatics is part of the International Federation of Gymnastics, and this brings a number of problems regarding the presentation of sports acrobatics at the Olympic Games. The geography of this sport is not as wide as it is necessary for its inclusion in the Games program.
Competitions
Competitions in sports acrobatics include the following types of performances: acrobatic jumps (for women and men), exercises in pairs (for men, women or mixed), group exercises (for women - three, for men - four).
In each type of performance, athletes include two compulsory exercises and two free exercises in the program: in jumping - different types of somersaults, in group and pair performances - static and tempo exercises. All performances are evaluated according to the standards adopted in artistic gymnastics.
Youth competitions are held in three age groups: from 11 to 16 years old, from 12 to 18 years old, from 13 to 19 years old. It is worth noting that couples or groups that competed in one of these categories cannot compete in parallel in another age category, even if they are suitable for it. Competitions for adults are also held, and those athletes who previously participated in youth competitions cannot compete in adult competitions in parallel either.
Sports acrobatics
It is better to start sports acrobatics in early childhood, when there are no psychological barriers and fears, and the body is plastic, flexible and easy to stretch. Then there are more chances to learn acrobatic elements and exercises, and then compete. Naturally, for this, the child needs to study under the guidance of an experienced mentor in a youth sports school.
Some athletes do not come to acrobatics in early childhood or move into acrobatics from another sport and, nevertheless, achieve great results. As in many other sports, everything depends on the natural capabilities of the body, character, desire and motivation.
Injuries and pain in sports acrobatics, as in sports in general, are not excluded. However, more often than not, injuries are received not from performing some difficult element, but due to insufficient warming up of the muscles, lack of insurance from the partner or non-compliance with the coach's requirements. In general, this sport is not considered traumatic.
