Artistic Gymnastics

Olympics · acrobatics · teamwork

Olympic sport. Artistic gymnastics is one of the most popular events at the Summer Olympics, where the best gymnasts in the world compete for gold medals.

Scored by judges. Judges watch each routine and give scores based on how hard the skills are and how perfectly the athlete performs them, using a detailed rulebook called the Code of Points.

Four apparatus types. Male gymnasts compete on floor, pommel horse, rings, and vault, while female gymnasts perform on vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor.

Years of training. Gymnasts usually start training as young children and practice for hours every day to develop the strength, flexibility, and courage needed to perform amazing skills.

World Gymnastics rules. An organization called World Gymnastics makes sure all competitions follow the same rules, so athletes can compete fairly whether they're in the Olympics or a local meet.