AEROBIC GYMNASTICS
Aerobic Gymnastics is the only athletic sport founded as a fitness activity that today is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and is poised to become an Olympic Sport. Aerobic Gymnastics is performed as a one-minute and forty-five second (1:45) choreographed routine. The athlete must demonstrate the components of fitness including cardiovascular endurance,strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, agility, speed, and power through continuous movement patterns.
In general, participants are everyday people from kids to adult who enjoy fitness and dance. Those who participate in sportaerobics come from a multitude of athletic backgrounds including dance, martial arts, cheer, gymnastics, swimming, diving and more. At its highest level the sport draws some of the most recognized and awarded athletes, instructors and personal trainers whose presence in the events continually inspire others to follow a healthier lifestyle.
The different categories are: Men’s Individuals, Women’s Individuals, Mixed Pairs, Trios and Groups (of 6 gymnasts). The routine is performed on a 7 x 7 m area (floor), 10 x 10 m for the Groups. Aerobic Gymnastics is the ability to perform continuous complex and high intensity movement patterns to music, which originate from traditional aerobic exercises: the routine must demonstrate continuous movement, flexibility, strength and the utilisation of the 7 basic steps, with perfectly executed all the movements including the difficulty elements.
My name is Nina Kelly, I am a former level 8 gymnast and a level 6 state champion. I am now an Aerobic Gymnast, and I could not be happier with my decision. I chose to end my career as a gymnast because of the lengthy time commitments and the struggle to succeed. I am now ranked fourth in the nation and twenty-eighth in the world. This only my second year competing in this sport. I love the fact that my sport allows me to have a normal life and do everyday teenage things, but I can remain competitive and athletic all at the same time. I can also admit that the stress on my body is far less then when I competed as a gymnast and I am able to stay fit and flexible through this sport. I have met so many wonderful people and other athletes involved in this sport and I wouldn't trade my choice for anything. I would recomend this to any gymnastics studio looking to open new classes, and provide more oppurtunities for children to excel in an active way. I currently train at Everest Gymnastics and I will be assisting with this upcoming clinic. I hope to meet all sorts of new faces from gyms around NC!
Sincerely,
Nina Kelly
For More information about this sport you can go to:
www.sportaerobics-nac.com
or
http://www.fig2008.sportcentric.com/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,5187-188046-205268-nav-list,00.html
