Rhythmic gymnastics Group 10 clubs final, 27th Summer Universiade 2013, Kazan | |
| Highest governing body | Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No |
| Mixed-sex | No |
| Type | Gymnastic sport that involves artistic movement |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Worldwide |
| Olympic | Since 1984 |
| World Games | 2001 – 2021[1] |
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope.[2][3] The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, flexible, agile, dexterous and coordinated. Rhythmic gymnastics is governed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), which first recognized it as a sport in 1963.[2] At the international level, rhythmic gymnastics is a women-only sport.
Rhythmic gymnastics became an Olympic sport in 1984, when the individual all-around event was first competed, and the group competition was also added to the Olympics in 1996.[2][3] The most prestigious competitions, besides the Olympic Games, are the World Championships, World Games, European Championships, European Games, the World Cup Series and the Grand Prix Series. Gymnasts are judged on their artistry, execution of skills, and difficulty of skills, for which they gain points. They perform leaps, balances, and rotations (spins) along with handling the apparatus.[3]