The Morisue skill (Double Salto Tucked to Upper Arm Hang) on parallel bars is recognized as a high-difficulty element in men’s artistic gymnastics, demanding precise coordination, momentum control, and technical mastery. Despite its complexity and recent reclassification as an E-difficulty element in the 2025–2028 FIG Code of Points, limited biomechanical research has analyzed its execution, particularly within Arab and international contexts. This biomechanical case study aimed to investigate the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of the Morisue skill, based on the performance of an elite German national gymnast preparing for the 2024 World Championships in Cairo. Two-dimensional motion analysis was conducted using SkillSpector software (version 1.3.2) on video recordings captured at 30 frames per second. Key parameters—including displacement, velocity, acceleration, angular momentum, and force estimations—were extracted to characterize performance phases. Temporal analysis revealed that the preparatory swing phase accounted for 47% of the total execution time (1.76 seconds), highlighting its critical role in energy generation. Peak angular velocity during the second salto reached 768°/s, while the maximum center of mass height achieved was 56 cm above the bars. Although the limitations of 2D analysis and standard frame rate restrict the precision of kinetic calculations, the findings offer valuable preliminary insights into performance optimization for high-difficulty elements. Integrating biomechanical feedback based on such analyses can enhance training strategies, particularly regarding release mechanics, dynamic balance, and tucking efficiency. This study provides a scientific foundation for coaches and athletes seeking to refine technique and improve competitive outcomes in elite gymnastics.

The retirement from elite Artistic Gymnastics represent a crucial moment in the careers of athletes who have devoted a significant portion of their lives to the sport. This phenomenon not only marks the conclusion of a competitive journey but also prompts fundamental questions regarding the transition to a new phase in the lives of these gymnasts. In this context, this article endeavors to explore the factors that influence the decision to retire from elite Artistic Gymnastics in Brazil. Understanding these aspects is paramount not only for researchers but also for coaches, sports managers, and athletes alike, aiming to facilitate a smoother and more successful transition to post-competition life. The research adopted a qualitative approach, employing a descriptive study design, with semi-structured interviews as the chosen technique. The study involved 12 participants, former Brazilian Artistic Gymnastics athletes aged over 18, who retired from 2000 onwards. Throughout our investigation, we observed that athletes retired due to both voluntarily and involuntarily factors. Specially, four athletes retired due to injury (in the hip, shoulder, and lower back), one was dismissed from the club, and seven athletes retired by choice (to meet objectives, reaching the physical limit, pursuing higher education, seeking improved financial prospects, and experiencing conflicts with coaches or managers of the Brazilian national team). In conclusion, the transition of these athletes to post-competition life is a multifaceted process encompassing not only physical considerations but also emotional and social dimensions. Recognizing the factors to better address this challenge is imperative to ensure that gymnasts receive adequate support during this critical phase of transition.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the unusual take-off techniques demonstrated during tumbling take-offs on a spring tumbling strip (STS) and to assess the potential causes of these techniques and their possible contributions to Achilles tendon ruptures. A survey study of women’s collegiate gymnasts showed an alarmingly high 17.2% prevalence of ruptured Achilles tendons (Bonanno, Cheng, Tilley, Abutalib, & Casey). Twelve highly trained female gymnasts from USA Gymnastics voluntarily participated. The take-off was captured (2D) via high-speed video (500 fps). An accelerometer (1D) was placed under the STS take-off position (1000 Hz). Reflective markers were placed on the toes, heels, ankles, knees, hips, torso center, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, and the apices of the head. Lower extremity angles were of primary interest. Two take-off trials were cross-correlated and analyzed. Results indicated an unusual and unexpected “secondary knee flexion” during take-off. Knee angle changes indicated that take-off actions were not simple eccentric knee flexion followed by concentric knee extension. The observed motions are heretofore undocumented. During the period from heel contact to heel departure, the gymnasts’ ankles reach extremes of dorsiflexion at approximately the same time that their knees are extending, and the STS reaches its lowest position of descent. We speculate that the gymnasts may be readjusting muscle stiffness, reacting to a sudden intermediate vibration of the STS, or showing an artefact of the rearward rotation of the entire body about the feet. The observed actions may contribute to Achilles tendon injury.

Over the last few decades, the development of the Code of Points, which defines the values for each gymnastic skill as well as possible errors, has brought with it the ubiquitous need for strength and hold elements (Group II) and Swing to strength hold elements (Group III) in order to be competitive on the still rings. This apparatus will be crucial in the upcoming Olympic cycle, therefor it's important to keep a close eye on gymnasts’ progress. Despite being the gold standard, force plates are a costly and unwieldy piece of equipment for a federation interested in measuring strength. The purpose of this article is to determine how accurately the vertical component of the force produced by the gymnast (vForce) can be estimated using two strain gauges placed in the cables. 16 recreational gymnasts (32±11 years old, 74±7 kg, 173±6 cm) performed one maximal isometric contraction in the iron cross position. The tension in the cables were measured with a pair of strain gauges, while the vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) was recorded synchronously with a pair of force plates placed under the gymnast. The residuals of the tension are strongly correlated with the cable angle (R = 0.84), while the calculated vForce is completely uncorrelated with the cable angle (R = -0.09) and has a smaller systematic and random error (Bias ± LOA Range: -4.8N ± 13.3N). Strain gauges are valid instruments for measuring and monitoring the relative upper body force of gymnasts, provided that the cable angle is known and does not change during contraction.

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of a rule change on the performance model of individual rhythmic gymnastics. For the study, the results of 572 competition routines were collected from two different world championships, each held under a different set of rules (2017-2021 and 2022-2024). The variables of the study included: the rules used at each championship, the score for body difficulty, the score for apparatus difficulty, the score for artistic execution, the score for technical execution and the final score. The main findings indicate that changing the scoring code leads to a significant change in the gymnasts' performance model, especially in terms of body and apparatus difficulty. The change in the scoring code equalised the partial contribution of each scoring aspect to the gymnasts' overall performance. With the previous code, the difficulty of the apparatus was more important than other aspects. With the current code, the contribution of all performance components is more balanced. The main conclusion is the need to change the routine composition and training model and to optimise the judges' evaluation parameters.

Ph.D. Anton Gajdoš born on 1.6.1940 in Dubriniči (today Ukraine) lives most of his life in Bratislava (ex TCH, nowadays SVK). He comes from gymnastics family (his brother Pavel have world championship medals) and he devoted his life to gymnastics. His last achievement is establishment of Narodna encyklopedia športu Slovenska (www.sportency.sk). Among his passion is collecting photos and signatures of gymnasts. As we tend to forget old champions and important gymnasts, judges and coaches, we decided to publish part of his archive under title Short historical notes. All information on these pages is from Anton’s archives and collected through years.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a global impact across multiple domains. This study aims to identify the characteristics of Gymnastics for All (GfA) choreographic compositions (CCs) performed virtually in 2020. This documentary research analyzed approximately 100 CCs presented in four Brazilian virtual festivals, focusing on three key aspects: theme, mise-en-scène, and music. The results revealed that predominant themes included reflections on life, resilience, and overcoming challenges. The mise-en-scène was notably simpler, utilizing indoor spaces such as rooms in homes and outdoor environments. Regarding music, there was a predominance of songs and international tracks. Overall, the pandemic influenced the profile of CCs, introducing new aesthetic perspectives while retaining core elements characteristic of Brazilian GfA compositions: collectivity, criticality, and creativity.

It is very important for coaches in charge of selection to know the competition level based on the athletes registered, as well as to assess the gymnasts’ capacity to achieve the expected performance. In international artistic gymnastics competitions, access to the all-around (C2), apparatus (C3), and team (C4) finals is determined based on the results of the qualification round (C1). A specialist who competes on only one or two apparatuses may have a chance to win medals on those apparatuses but may also be a disadvantage to the team score. Based on the nominative entries submitted by each competing nation one month prior to the 2022 European Championships held in Munich, we extracted previous individual scores from national and international competitions over a period of six months before the 2022 EC. Individual standard deviations were computed for each competing athlete, and their mean and maximal scores were used as two predictive outcomes. The individual standard deviation on still rings showed a low Q1, median, Q3, and IQR for both junior and senior MAG, while pommel horse exhibited greater variability. Among WAG athletes, those competing in junior and senior vault and floor had lower Q1, median, Q3, and IQR compared to uneven bars and balance beam. When comparing both predictions (mean and maximal values) to the scores obtained in Munich, small differences were observed in terms of random errors. However, a large systematic error indicated a significant overestimation in the maximal prediction, explained by the fact that athletes are not always able to perform at their best. The percentage of gymnasts with a score less than 0.30 points away from the mean prediction ranged from 28.1% (senior floor) to 58.9% (junior still rings) for MAG and from 23.9% (junior balance beam) to 70.7% (senior vault) for WAG athletes. The simple method outlined in this article provides information about the method’s reliability on different apparatuses, as well as insight into the accuracy of score predictions across the apparatuses.

Vital capacity (VC) tests are an important tool in assessing the functioning of the respiratory system. Low levels of vital capacity can indicate health problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory conditions. The volume of VC depends on many factors, especially the strength of the respiratory muscles, body and chest structure, lung and chest compliance, airway patency, gender, environmental factors, and physical activity. The aim of this study is to determine the level of vital capacity (VC) in girls and boys aged 10-13 who practice trampoline jumping, and to compare the results with reference values for a given gender and age category. The research was conducted among 100 trampoline jumpers (including 57 girls and 43 boys) aged 10-13. As part of the research, spirometric measurement was performed using the portable EasyOne model 2001 spirometer. The obtained results were then compared to reference values calculated on the basis of a study by the European Respiratory Society. The average level of vital capacity in the girls aged 10 was 2.2 liters, in 11-year-olds - 2.45 l, in 12-year-olds 2.54 l, and in 13-year-olds it was 3.02 l. The average level of vital capacity of the examined boys aged 10 was 2.36 l, in 11-year-olds 2.56 l, in 12-year-olds 2.89 l, and in 13-year-olds 3.33 l. These research results indicate that trampoline jumpers show a VC value within the reference values (between the LLN and ULN values). The girls stand out with higher percentage of predicted values for VC at the age of 11 (95.26%) and 13 (100.34%), in comparison with boys at the age of 10 (96.38%) and 12 (96.23%).