Brazilian men’s and women’s Artistic Gymnastics (AG) has been in the spotlight due to the results of some outstanding athletes in the most important international competitions over the last 20 years. However, the development of this sport in the national context does not reflect these achievements. This article performs a critical analysis of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) in Brazil, reviewing the trajectory of the main gymnasts and their achievements in the World Championships and Olympic Games from 1966 to 2021, as well as relevant contextual facts during this historical period. Medals in major events have been won since 2001, with gradual and unstable growth, placing Brazil among the most prominent countries. Nevertheless, the data suggest that the achievements were based on concentrated investment in elite gymnasts, mainly in the Olympic team, with the support of already established clubs. The development is still centralized in a few clubs, without showing a sustainable increase in the number of clubs and gymnasts. In this scenario, there is a need for a long-term plan that can sustain the development of the national ecosystem (clubs, local competitions, provincial federations) across all age-group categories and in connection with the national teams..

The aim of the study was to explore sources of organizational stress among Brazilian youth rhythmic gymnasts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six female athletes aged approximately 15 years (M = 14.50; SD = 1.76) with approximately seven years of experience in the sport on average (M = 6.83; SD = 3.25). Deductive categorical analysis was used to analyze the raw data. Our analysis revealed that sport entrapment, time management, and body image concerns are some of the stressors experienced by rhythmic gymnasts. Coach-pressure, peer-pressure, and parental-pressure are additional sources of stress reported by the athletes. Finally, the athletes reported experiencing competitive anxiety before, during, and after competition. Collectively, our findings suggest that rhythmic gymnasts reported a multitude of sport-related stressors. To counter these pressures, coaches, and practitioners need to equip athletes with a variety of coping skills in order to promote well-being and increase peak performance in the sport.

The risk of injury is associated with elite sport. There is evidence that body composition may affect injury risk. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of injuries, and to determine the relationship of body composition with the incidence, typology and severity of injuries in female acrobatic gymnasts. The sample included 92 female acrobatic gymnasts aged between 9 and 20 years (13.66 ± 2.66 years), 33 tops (11.06 and 1.41 age) and 59 bases (15.11 and 2.00 age). Body measurements (fat percentage, muscle percentage and the sum of 6 skinfolds), and body mass index (BMI) and their categorization into underweight, normal weight and overweight, were measured. Data about injuries were collected through a self-completed questionnaire at the end of the season, where it was recorded whether they had suffered injuries, the type of injury (joint, ligament, tendon or bone) and its severity (minor, moderate or severe). A descriptive, comparative and relational analysis of the studied variables and between groups was carried out. The results obtained in this study indicate a higher percentage of uninjured gymnasts, but also a high percentage of injured gymnasts, with ligament injuries being the most frequent. As for the relationship with body composition and BMI, no significant relationships were observed in the incidence, typology or severity of injuries suffered by these athletes. It only seems to affect tendon injuries in the bases, with the injured gymnasts having a higher BMI, fat percentage and the sum of six skinfolds.

The aim of this study was to compare the difficulty (D) scores and final scores between the qualification round and event finals round for each apparatus in 2018–2020 Individual Apparatus World Cup Series and 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. It was also to examine the association between strategy of D scores and winning a medal or not. Both male and female gymnasts who participated the event finals in 2018–2020 Apparatus World Cup Series and 2019 World Championships were the subject of present investigation. The dependent t test was used to analyze the difficulty scores and final scores. The Chi-square test was selected to test the numbers of distribution of increasing/non-increasing of difficulty scores and wining/losing a medal, and the odds ratio was also calculated. It shows that in all apparatus, there were meaningful difference in D scores between the qualification round and event finals round for both male and female gymnasts. The final scores of event finals round were significantly decreased as compared with the qualification round in men’s pommel horse, horizontal bar and women’s balance beam, floor exercise events. To elevate D scores in the event finals round of men’s pommel horse, horizontal bar and women’s floor exercise could significantly improve the odds for getting a medal. To our knowledge, this was the first study to compare the gymnast’s performance between the qualification and event finals. And we also determine the different D scores and the odds ratio of winning a medal in the event finals. When studying men’s pommel horse, horizontal bar and women’s balance beam, floor exercise events, it was prone to underestimate the scores if only the result of event finals was analyzed but without the qualification. Elevating D scores was not always guaranteed to increase the chance of winning. Coaches and gymnasts could refer to the current study to draw up the strategies for different competitions.

movement difficulties used by individual elite senior rhythmic gymnasts in their routines. In the World Cup Competitions and European Championships held in 2021, the final competition routines (N=75) of gymnasts (N=28) were examined, and body and apparatus difficulties, and the number and rate of use of the preferred side were determined. Since gymnasts participated in more than one competition, their most recent competition routines were included in the research. The data were obtained by analyzing the routines recorded during the competitions. Explanatory statistical analyses of the data were conducted by using the IBM SPSS 25.0 statistical program. In all routines, while higher rates of between 56.2% and 87% were found in the right hand when compared to the left hand in throwing and catching, higher rates were found in the hoop and ribbon apparatus in throwing with the left foot when compared to the right foot. In the right foot/leg catches, the highest rates were observed in the hoop apparatus (49.6%). Left foot usage preferences were observed at rates varying between 65.1% and 97.4% in jumps/leaps difficulties and between 58% and 71% in balance difficulties. In rotation difficulties, the use of the right foot had higher rates of between 72.6% and 80% when compared to the left foot. Gymnasts showed a tendency to use the right hand predominantly in throws and catches, the left foot in jumps/leaps and balances, and the right foot in rotations.

Regular monitoring of body composition, nutrition, health, and motor skills are crucial for further training process planning and performance progress. With the same protocol and methods, we evaluated a four-year change (2018 vs. 2022) in the nutritional and cardiovascular health status of the currently most successful elite-level adult female artistic gymnast in Slovenia. Detailed body composition and dietary intake were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and a standardized food questionnaire FFQ. The blood lipids and safety factors, blood pressure, and serum micronutrients (e.g., B12, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron) status were measured. The four-year comparison showed an improved body composition status: decreased body fat mass/percentage, android fat percentage, and android/gynoid ratio, while other anthropometrical and body composition parameters remained essentially unchanged. We also measured an improvement of some and worsening of other cardiovascular health serum variables (i.e., decreased total cholesterol but increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and S-glucose), most likely due to the differences in assessed dietary intake (i.e., lower total fat, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake but higher cholesterol intake and still high free sugar and saturated fat intake, despite higher fiber). Notably, nutrient intakes that are generally of concern (fiber (borderline low intake), eicosapentaenoic omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12 and D, calcium (borderline low intake), iron, and zinc) were within recommended ranges. However, the athlete’s vitamin E and potassium intakes were not adequate. Furthermore, in 2018, the athlete did not consume dietary supplements, while she now regularly uses several dietary supplements, including enriched plant-based protein powder, isolated vitamin B12, C, D, and iron. Moreover, the athlete had significantly lower than recommended serum levels of 25(OH)D, probably due to insufficient regular intake of vitamin D in the form of a dietary supplement (1000 IU/d). Moreover, from the micronutrient serum, phosphorus, and iron levels that deviated from the reference values in the 2018 study, in the current study, they were found to be within referenced ranges (i.e., iron status was markedly improved). This kind of screening toolbox, using valid, sensitive, and affordable methods and with rapid organizational implementation, may be a viable format for regular monitoring.

SHORT HISTORICAL NOTES XXVI

The final result in competitive trampoline gymnastics is composed of different subscores. These contribute differentially to the final score and result in a gymnast’s ranking. The present study was designed to investigate the impact that alternative score calculations of the horizontal displacement of the landing positions on the trampoline’s cloth would have on the final competition result. Different approaches for determining a precision measure were compared to the current standard of horizontal displacement deduction. These approaches for calculating precision measures were: (a) “total distance,” (b) the “convex-hull approach,” and (c) the “error approach.” Results showed that an alternative approach was more precise and differentiated better between gymnasts. The resulting changed rankings are compared to the official final score of the competition in order to demonstrate the impact of alternative calculations.

Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport that is supported by strength, speed and endurance with an emphasis on flexibility and coordination. It is assumed that low fat percentage, normal height, low body weight, and elegant and thin structure influence the performance of the athletes because it provides an aesthetically advantage in this sports branch. The aim of the study was to reveal the anthropometric properties in rhythmic gymnastics athletes, and to examine the changes and relationships of these parameters according to their parents' diet. A questionnaire with socio-demographic information, Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire, was used to gather data. The data on children's BMI, waist circumference and upper middle arm circumference were also included; these measurements were all taken by the same researcher. It was determined that the scores obtained from the parent feeding style scale differed according to the waist circumference of the child (p <0.05). It can be concluded that the scores obtained from the parent feeding style scale and its sub-dimensions of promoting to eat /encouraging feeding and instrumental feeding differ according to the child's upper middle arm circumference (p <0.05). As a result of the research, some sociodemographic and anthropometric features seem to affect the parents' feeding style of their children. The results obtained from this study can be used as a guide when creating forward-looking nutrition models for children engaged in rhythmic gymnastics, and planning the nutritional education for their parents.