Which Are the Largest Gymnastic Competitions?
Today, more than 200,000 athletes and professionals are members of USA Gymnastics. More than 4,500 competitions and events are sanctioned annually throughout the USA. USA Gymnastics has more than 164,000 athletes registered to participate in the Junior Olympic and other elite programs.
It is important to know the gymnastic competition terrain, including which game competition holds the most promise for gymnast fame and fortune: The largest participant gymnastic competitions, in descending order of elitism are:
- The Olympic Games
- The World Championships
- The European Championships
- The World Cups
- The Grand-Prix Series
The World Championships
World Championships are the second largest gymnastic competition and they've been held sequentially every fourth - Olympic year. There were two World Cups acknowledged in 1994, one for teams and one for individuals. Other major competitions include the European Championships, the Asian Games, and the Pan American Games.
The Governing Bodies of Gymnastics
USA Gymnastics (USAG) is the national governing body of gymnastics in the United States, and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) is the worldwide gymnastics governing body. USAG organizes and presides over many of the gymnastics competitions in the US, while the FIG does so internationally.
The governing body’s participant numbers are staggering. With so much performance pressure, gymnasts find it necessary to seek out professional help in numbers. Today, more than 200,000 athletes and professionals are members of USA Gymnastics. More than 4,500 competitions and events are sanctioned annually throughout the USA. USA Gymnastics has more than 164,000 athletes registered to participate in the Junior Olympics and other elite programs. Some of these gymnasts will go on to perform in the Olympics.
The Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is the ultimate gymnastics event, and most young gymnasts set their sights on making the Olympic team from early on in their careers. In fact, many gymnastic goals beggin for youngsters when they witness gymnastic events on television. One can definitely understand this, we've been there!
Requirements for the Olympic Team
The specific requirements to qualify for the Olympic team vary from year to year, and by gymnastic type. The men’s and women’s artistic teams select their five-member Olympic-teams, by committee. The committee weighs each gymnastic performance, first at Nationals and Olympic Trials, and his/her past training and event experience. For instance, rhythmic gymnastics, athletes qualify based on their rankings in the previous world championships or other major competitions.
How to Become an Olympian
Most Olympic gymnasts train around 40 hours a week to reach the highest level of performance. Some forego traditional schooling, and instead opt for home-schooling programs or delay attending college to pursue their dreams. In the end, though, many would say it was well worth it.
To get started in gymnastics, find a club that’s a USAG member and has a competitive Junior Olympic Training Program. Once you progress through the levels, you’ll try to qualify as an elite. In order to make the Olympic team, you’ll need to be classified as an elite first. Each level leads to the next. The specific qualification procedures vary each Olympic year, but in general, to make the team, you’ll have to be one of the top gymnasts in the United States. In men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, being one of the best All-Arounders or an excellent event specialist is the goalLeave a comment
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