Competitive Gymnasts Research Articles

PERKEMBANGAN AKTIVITAS OLAHRAGA SENAM AEROBIK DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEBUGARAN MASYARAKAT KOTA SURAKARTA

The research used by researchers is descriptive qualitative research. This research uses survey model. the research is conducted on only one target (one location or one subject) for example, although research is conducted in several locations (multiple groups or a number of individuals). That is with the stages of observation, interview, documentation, data analysis. In this case study, the study used purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques. For the determination of the research sample is done by purposive because it is known characteristics. The results of the research analysis showed that: 1. The development of aerobic gymnastics in Surakarta developed well with the container that shaded in aerobic gymnastics that is FORMI, and already many types of aerobic exercises that are taught among others zumba, BL, poco-poco etc. 2. Community participation in aerobic gymnastics is so supported by the community, one of them aerobic exercise is an alternative exercise that can be done to keep improving healthy life, because aerobic exercise is very easy to find everywhere. 3. The role of government in developing aerobic gymnastics is to provide broad access for public aerobic aerobics activities in public open spaces, as well as CFD events and government cooperation with private parties in terms of gymnastics competitions and aerobic gymnastics activities to always develop aerobic exercises .Keywords: Aerobic aerobics, development, government role

BRAZILIAN OLYMPIC GYMNASTS’ PERSPECTIVES ON THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES

This paper analyzes the perspectives of Brazilian gymnasts on the experience of participatingin the Olympic Games (OG) in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) competition (1980-2004), using oral history in a qualitative research approach, and cross-sectional thematic analysis. The author interviewed ten Brazilian WAG gymnasts (100% of the sample) who participated in OG until 2004. The gymnasts’ testimonials indicated that, as the Brazilian WAG team improved their performance in international competitions, gymnasts’ expectations have changed over time, although the dream to participate in the OG was shared by all of them. From the generation of the pioneering gymnasts (1984-1988-1992) to the transitional generation (1996-2000), it is possible to observe several differences related to the pressure to perform well in the competition. While the pioneering gymnasts were not concerned about their ranking in the OG, the transitional gymnasts were reminded of the responsibility to represent their country. For the new generation gymnasts (2004), the participation in the OG carried the burden of needing to accomplish something, to be among the best gymnasts in the world, with actual chances of going to the finals and getting medals in the apparatus finals. Testimonials show their confidence in the work developed by the experienced Ukrainian coaches who led the Brazilian team in the OG in Athens. Gymnasts describe their experience in the OG as having accomplished a mission, feeling at the same time relief, disappointment, desire to return to other editions and some even report the sensation of being lost after returning to Brazil.

TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS: THE BRAZILIAN PARTICIPATION AT INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – THE OLYMPIC GAMES STILL A DREAM

Since the modern trampoline was built by George Nissen and Larry Griswold around, 1934 in USA, this equipment and its use has suffered drastic changes. Its development was decisive in order to Trampoline Gymnastics to be included at the Olympic Games program in 2000. In Brazil its practice started in the 1980’s, and has been only integrated the Brazilian Gymnastics Federation in 1999. The purpose of the study is to analyze the Brazilian participation in the international trampoline gymnastics championships. Data collection was performed by the documental and bibliographic research of main international trampoline gymnastics competitions. The results show that, even though Brazil is the leader in South America with relevant participation in the continental level, the first participation at an Olympic Games had only been possible in 2016, because Brazil was the host country. We conclude that the Brazilian participation in World Championships and in the Olympic Games is not relevant. Finally, the lack of adequate equipment, the bad condition of the training centers, the absence of regular and official coaching education programs and the lack of support for the clubs, shows that this gymnastics discipline is not a current priority for the National Sports authorities, hindering its development internally.

EDITORIAL

GYMNASTICS AT OLYMPIC GAMES
 
 In 2018, The Science of Gymnastics Journal has reached the first decade of existence! We must celebrate, as it is among the few scientific journals specific to one sport!
 We applaud its 10th anniversary with this special issue for October: Gymnastics at Olympic Games.
 Rio 2016 has gone, with many memories to recall, the exuberance performance of Simone Biles and Kohei Uchimura in women’s and men’s Artistic Gymnastics; Margarita Mamun in Rhythmic Gymnastics; and Uladzislau Hancharou and Rosanna Maclennan in women’s and men’s Trampoline. They were crowned absolute queens and kings, although there are many others who exhibited their best too.
 Gymnastics has been growing and evolving at each Olympic Cycle, new skills and combinations abound, and gymnasts seem to have no limits!
 However, this evolutionary trend in Gymnastics is partly owed to the science, and the gymnastics’ community knows well gymnasts could not reach that far without the support of science.
 This special edition adds 12 articles to the science of gymnastics from researchers of Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia and the United States of America, who cover a variety of topics.
 Maja Pajek discusses the influence of rules’ changes on the trend of higher difficulties and gymnasts’ specialization in Artistic Gymnastics, while investigating the performance of all-around medalists at individual apparatus finals.
 Ivan Čuk and Karmen Šibanc present the history of the development of Olympic Games all-around medallists and their success in reaching the podium on individual apparatus in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics.
 Ivana Montandon and Myrian Nunomura explored the experiences of older gymnasts (over 20 years of age) and the factors that contributed to the prolongation of their sports career in the high level of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics in Portugal.
 William Sands, Steven Murray, Jeni McNeal, Cindy Slater, and Michael Stone conducted an extended and updated analysis of the sizes trends of U.S. female Olympic artistic gymnasts including the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.
 Flavio Bessi and Jan Pfeifer attempt to set a viable classification system to categorize the rotation habits of high-level artistic gymnasts in the Women’s Individual All Around finalists at the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
 Catarina Leandro analyzed the evolution of the apparatus difficulty in the Rhythmic Gymnastics in two Olympic cycles, as an attempt to identify eventual factors that could contribute to the improvement of performance in competition.
 Eliana Toledo, Mateus Oliveira, Maria Letícia Scarabelim and Bianca Assumpção analyzed the impact of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Code of Points (2013-2016) by allowing vocal music in routines, at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
 Laurita Schiavon and Bruna Locci analyzed the perspectives of Brazilian gymnasts on the experience of participating in the Olympic Games in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics competition (1980-2004), using oral history in a qualitative research approach.
 Caroline Molinari, Vitor Costa, Kamau Monteiro and Myrian Nunomura analyzed the Brazilian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics team participation over the last four cycles (2004-2016) in order to identify and discuss the factors associated to the results and contributions to the development of this sport in the country.
 Marco Bortoleto, Paulo Carrara and Murilo Roveri analyzed the participation of the Brazilian trampoline gymnastics in the main international events as the World Championships and the Olympic Games.
 William Sands and Olyvia Donti characterized and analyzed the durations of careers of U.S. elite female gymnasts who had qualified for Olympic Games and World Championships teams and compare these with the team rank from 1936 to 2016.
 Sunčica Delaš Kalinski, Petra Mandić Jelaska and Almir Atiković examined the relative age effect (RAE) among Women’s and Men’s Artistic Gymnastics in the elite international gymnasts who competed at Olympic Games.
 After hosting the Olympic Games in our country (Brazil), we are very pleased as guest editors for this special issue. It was a unique opportunity to work with researchers from different countries and fields of study, and to realize how science can support the many gaps still to fulfil in the world of gymnastics. Articles also incited our reflection and foster much thought.
 We hope you will enjoy every article presented as we did.
 Special Guest Editors:
 Laurita Marconi Schiavon
 Myrian Nunomura

Ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the elbow in female division I collegiate gymnasts: a report of five cases.

IntroductionElbow ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries in gymnastics have not been well documented in the literature, in comparison to UCL injuries in baseball. Few studies have examined the mechanism and nonoperative management of this injury, and no studies to date have been published on incidence of injury and return to play recommendations in gymnastics.Patient case reviewA literature search was performed using PubMed to review articles from 1980 to 2016 that addressed the biomechanics of UCL injury in baseball and gymnastics, the anatomy of the elbow, injury rates, surgical vs non-surgical management, rehabilitation, and return to play recommendations for the sport of gymnastics. Five female collegiate gymnasts sustained UCL injury over a 3-year period. Electronic medical records for each case were thoroughly reviewed including imaging, surgical and non-surgical management, rehabilitation, and the progressive return to gymnastics.DiscussionFour UCL injuries were confirmed by MRI to be avulsions at the distal insertion of the UCL and one was an avulsion at the proximal origin. While less than half of baseball players can return to competition with conservative management of these types of injuries, four out of five gymnasts were able to return to competition with nonoperative management. One gymnast opted to have reconstruction after a successful competition season. Time to return to play varied seemingly dependent on the severity of UCL injury and event.ConclusionIn our case series, collegiate female gymnasts were able to return to participation with nonoperative treatment of the UCL. Their success in returning to competitive gymnastics may also depend on the event(s) in which they are trying to participate.Strength of Recommendation TaxonomyC.

English

This study, investigating whether sports has a positive impact on students’ academic life’ aims to compare the grade point averages of competing rhythmic gymnasts and 7th grade students not engaged in any branch of sports. The study was conducted with female secondary school students (n=80). The study group was divided into two: The first group (n=40) comprised top 40 rhythmic gymnasts (height: 138.7±2.04 cm and weight: 28.7±1.11 kg) who participated in the Turkish National Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition while the second group (n=40) consisted of students who do not do any sports (height: 145.6±4.44 cm and body weight: (38.9±5.04 kg). The comparison was made based on both groups’ general point averages (GPA) at the end of the year. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the point averages as part of statistical analysis. At the end of the study, it was found that the academic achievement of the rhythmic gymnasts was statistically significantly higher than the sedentary group (p<0.05). In line with the results of the study, the comparison of rhythmic gymnasts with non-sports students revealed that rhythmic gymnasts had better scores in terms of academic achievement. This finding can stem from the fact that regular sports activities enhance mental development in addition to physical development or help to prepare a much more efficient work plan. Key words: Academic achievement, sports achievement, rhythmic gymnastics.

Sport-specific musculoskeletal growth and postural control in female artistic gymnasts: a 12 month cohort study

Female gymnasts have been evidenced to experience sport-specific growth, of which broad shoulders and narrow hips are common characteristics. In addition to being a central component of handstand performance, postural control mechanisms, including whole-body and lumbo-pelvic stability, have been identified as risk factors for overuse spinal pathology. The study aimed to develop a fundamental understanding of musculoskeletal growth and postural control responses of female artistic gymnasts in order to extend longitudinal insights into overuse spinal pathology risk. Whole-body anthropometric measures were collected for 12 competitive female gymnasts (age at recruitment: nine to 15 years) at three time points across a 12 month period. Musculoskeletal growth was partially defined as the rate of bicristal-to-biacromial breadth ratio development, and informed shoulder- and pelvis-dominant growth sub-groups. Kinematic and kinetic indicators of postural control were determined for a total of 700 handstand trials. The shoulder-dominant (gymnastics-specific) growth group was found to have significantly greater biomechanical risk for general stability (p < 0.001) than the pelvis-dominant group. Significantly greater lumbo-pelvic risk was demonstrated for the pelvis-dominant group (p < 0.001). Extended idiosyncratic examination of proportional sport-specific growth measures alongside multi-faceted risk monitoring was advocated for the effective development of future overuse pathology prevention protocols.

Revisiting mediational models of sport commitment with female gymnasts

The purpose of this study was to test alternative models of sport commitment with a youth sport sample. Competitive female gymnasts (N = 792; Levels 4–10), ages 8–19 years (M = 11.68, SD = 2.33), completed measures designed to assess the determinants of commitment. Data were analysed via path analysis models in the lavaan package in R. Three separate models were fitted: (a) direct effects model, (b) a mediational model testing the indirect effects of the predictors via enjoyment, and (c) direct and indirect effects of the predictors on sport commitment. Of the models tested, the direct and indirect effects model yielded the best fit of the data (RMSE = .03 90% CI [.000, .057], TLI = .989, CFI = .997, NFI = .989; 67% of the variance in commitment explained). The model revealed that enjoyment, involvement opportunities, investments, and attractive alternatives had a direct effect on commitment. With regard to the indirect effects of the determinants on commitment via enjoyment, attractive alternatives, involvement opportunities, investments, costs, parent and best friend social constraints, and coach and teammate social support had direct effects on enjoyment, which predicted the level of gymnastics commitment. Additionally, some differences emerged in the salient predictors of commitment for high versus low level competitors. The role of enjoyment within commitment is complex depending on competitive level, and future research should consider alternative models when examining the role of social influence on sport commitment.

Occupational exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other flame retardant foam additives at gymnastics studios: Before, during and after the replacement of pit foam with PBDE-free foams

Coaches spend long hours training gymnasts of all ages aided by polyurethane foam used in loose blocks, mats, and other padded equipment. Polyurethane foam can contain flame retardant additives such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), to delay the spread of fires. However, flame retardants have been associated with endocrine disruption and carcinogenicity. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated employee exposure to flame retardants in four gymnastics studios utilized by recreational and competitive gymnasts. We evaluated flame retardant exposure at the gymnastics studios before, during, and after the replacement of foam blocks used in safety pits with foam blocks certified not to contain several flame retardants, including PBDEs. We collected hand wipes on coaches to measure levels of flame retardants on skin before and after their work shift. We measured flame retardant levels in the dust on window glass in the gymnastics areas and office areas, and in the old and new foam blocks used throughout the gymnastics studios. We found statistically higher levels of 9 out of 13 flame retardants on employees' hands after work than before, and this difference was reduced after the foam replacement. Windows in the gymnastics areas had higher levels of 3 of the 13 flame retardants than windows outside the gymnastics areas, suggesting that dust and vapor containing flame retardants became airborne. Mats and other padded equipment contained levels of bromine consistent with the amount of brominated flame retardants in foam samples analyzed in the laboratory. New blocks did not contain PBDEs, but did contain the flame retardants 2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate and 2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate. We conclude that replacing the pit foam blocks eliminated a source of PBDEs, but not 2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate and 2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate. We recommend ways to further minimize employee exposure to flame retardants at work and acknowledge the challenges consumers have identifying chemical contents of new products.

Youth Athletic and Sports Movement in the USSR on the Eve of the Great Patriotic War (According to the Materials of the Penza Region)

В статье рассматривается развитие молодежного физкультурно-спортивного движения в Пензенском регионе в первой половине 1941 г. – перед Великой Отечественной войной. Данный вопрос практически не исследовался в работах по истории Пензенского региона. Характеризуются мероприятия местных советско-партийных и общественных организаций по оздоровлению и военно-спортивной подготовке населения, в первую очередь, молодежи: массовые лыжные походы и кроссы, соревнования по гимнастике, легкоатлетические кроссы (ко Дню большевистской печати, комсомольско-профсоюзные, на приз газеты «Молодой ленинец» и т.п.).

Is Destira My Destiny? Whether, When, and How to Join One's Small Family Business

In mid-2012, after successful years in large public companies and obtaining an MBA, middle daughter Jen, 32, is trying to decide whether the time is right for her to enter her mother and sister's small family business to grow it further. Destira, Inc. was a designer/manufacturer of gymnastics wear for girls, headquartered in California. Donna Levy founded the company in 1990, after years of making leotards for her three daughters, who were competitive youth gymnasts, and getting requests from other parents to make the garments for their own children. In 2005, when Donna's oldest daughter, Jodi, joined Destira, Donna gave her a 50 percent equity stake. Between then and year-end 2011, the pair grew the revenues from $550,000 to $1.06 million, increased the number of outlets carrying the brand, upgraded the internal accounting/operations software, and added an online direct-to-customer retail business. The case shows realistic considerations for the individual, family, and business when evaluating whether or not to commit to join the family enterprise.

The acute effects of stretching with vibration on dynamic flexibility in young female gymnasts.

While stretching with vibration has been shown to improve static flexibility; the effect of stretching with vibration on dynamic flexibility is not well known. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of stretching with vibration on acute dynamic flexibility and jump height in novice and advanced competitive female gymnasts during a split jump. Female gymnast (N.=27, age: 11.5±1.7 years, Junior Olympic levels 5-10) participated in this cross-over study. Dynamic flexibility during gymnastic split jumps were video recorded and analyzed with Dartfish software. All participants completed both randomized stretching protocols with either the vibration platform turned on (VIB) (frequency of 30 Hz and 2 mm amplitude) or off (NoVIB) separated by 48 h. Participants performed 4 sets of three stretches on the vibration platform. Each stretch was held for 30 seconds with 5 seconds rest for a total of 7 minutes of stretch. Split jump flexibility decreased significantly from pre to post measurement in both VIB (-5.8±5.9°) (P<0.001) and NoVIB (-2.6±6.1°) (P=0.041) conditions (adjusted for gymnast level). This effect was greatest in lower skill level gymnasts (P=0.003), while the highest skill level gymnasts showed no significant decrease in the split jump (P=0.105). Jump height was not significantly different between conditions (P=0.892) or within groups (P=0.880). An acute session of static stretching with or without vibration immediately before performance does not alter jump height. Stretching with vibration immediately prior to gymnastics competition decreases split jump flexibility in lower level gymnasts more than upper level gymnasts.

Performance control in handstands: challenging entrenched coaching strategies for young gymnasts

Despite well-accepted knowledge concerning the importance of the wrists’ contributions in handstand balances, common handstand coaching strategies prioritise developing the required aligned and aesthetic body shape. Thus, this study investigated the effects of a sole postural training on the maintenance compared to the execution quality in handstands in young competitive gymnasts. Therefore, twenty-two participants (13 females, aged: 8.54 ± 1.56 years; 9 males, aged: 8.67 ± 0.87 years) were randomly assigned into two counterbalanced groups, GPT (guided postural training) and CON (control), each n = 11. Within one week, GPT received four standardised training sessions (T1, T2, T3 and T4) including verbal and tactile advices addressing a straight body posture. Prior to T1 (pre-test), after T2 (mid-test) and after T4 (post-test), all participants (GPT and CON) were asked to perform five handstands where handstand executions were assessed by four gymnastics judges based on standardised video recordings which also captured the balance time. There were no group-related changes in balance time (p > .05); however, following T2, results revealed a positive impact of GPT on postural execution (p < .05). With respect to the importance of forearm activity in handstand performances, further research is needed approaching wrist-related advice in handstand acquisition.

Assessment of health-related fitness by the ALPHA-fitness test battery in girls and adolescents who practise rhythmic gymnastics

Introduction: An optimal level of health-related physical fitness is essential in rhythmic gymnastics, since this sport involves significant physical and technical demands and it requires early specialisation and high training volumes. Aim: The aim of the study was to analyse the level of health-related physical fitness in girls and adolescents who practise rhythmic gymnastics by means of the ALPHA-Fitness test battery. Method: 116 competitive gymnasts between 7 and 18 years old (49.2% girls and 50.8% adolescents) participated in this descriptive, comparative, cross-sectional study. The ALPHA-Fitness test battery (cardiorespiratory fitness test, agility test, standing broad jump test and handgrip strength test) was applied in order to assess physical fitness. Body mass, height, waist circumference and subscapular and triceps skinfolds were measured to determine body composition. Body mass and height were used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) and the skinfolds were used to determine the body fat percentage. Height and waist circumference were used to calculate the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Results: All gymnasts presented good physical fitness, the best results being obtained in the agility test and the standing broad jump. They all showed low values of BMI, waist circumference and body fat percentage. Correlations were found in the complete sample between the BMI, body fat percentage and waist circumference measures and the different physical fitness tests. The Mann-Whitney U test yielded significant differences (p < 0.005) between girls and adolescents in all physical fitness tests, the adolescent gymnasts showing a higher physical fitness level than the younger ones. All gymnasts had a WHtR below 0.55, related with a better cardiovascular profile. Conclusions: In general, the gymnasts presented good physical fitness. Adolescents showed a higher physical fitness level than girls. They all presented lower BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage and WHtR than the reference values.

Athlete’s Mood State before Artistic Gymnastics Competitions

The pre-competition mood is one of the main factors that can influence the performance of an athlete and changes in the athlete’s mood may be observed as training becomes more intense because elevated levels of tension, anger and depression increase the likelihood of mental and physical disorders. The hostile negative mood is a predisposing factor for many chronic-degenerative diseases. In this context, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the mood of athletes before artistic gymnastics. The participants were 90 athletes from gymnastics, male (n = 45) and female (n = 45), mean age 15.2 ± 5.23 years (coefficient of variation of 34.40%), assessed by Brunel Mood Scale, adapted by Profile of Mood States (POMS), designed to enable quick measurement of the mood state in adults and adolescents. A portion of the athletes interviewed did not achieve a desirable performance according to the iceberg profile. We observed that the athletes present characteristics of the iceberg profile in the investigated phase. However, of the total of 90 athletes, 64 (71.1%) were in the standard, and 26 athletes (28.9%) did not reach values considered ideal in the force factor, equal or higher than the 60th percentile. In this study, the artistic gymnastics athletes showed the mood profile that favors the performance and health and when analyzing the association between the subjective states of humor and age, we verified that the age did not influence the state of humor.

The effects of a four week jump-training program on frontal plane projection angle in female gymnasts

ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of a four week jump training program on frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) in young female gymnasts. DesignIntervention study, consisting of a four week jump training program performed for 15 min as part of a warm-up, three days per week for four weeks. SettingGymnastics training center. ParticipantsFourteen youth female gymnasts (age: 13.5 ± 2.14 years, height: 1.54 ± 0.11 m, body mass: 46.23 ± 7.68 kg). Main outcome measuresChange in FPPA during a 30 cm drop landing and tuck back somersault. ResultsLarge and significant decreases (p < 0.001) in FPPA of 6.8° (39%) and 8.4° (37%) during the drop landing and tuck back somersault, respectively. ConclusionThe jump training program was successful in improving FPPA in female gymnasts and is advised to be implemented into the warm-ups and training programs of competitive female gymnasts to improve FPPA and therefore reduce the risk factors associated with knee injuries.

한국의 서양근대체조의 도입과 정착과정에 관한 연구

The study was conducted to find the introduction and settlement process of western modern gymnastics in the short history. The time that modern gymnastics had been introduced to korea was estimated around 1890 by Gojong and a christian missionary of the United States. Emperor Gojong adopted it to respond the surrounding powers as a policy of “internal self strength” through educational manual, The US christian missionaries had established the school Baejae, Ewha and Geongsin as modern style. At that time those schools showed gymnastics subjects together with modern sports. In the early 1900’s Western modern gymnastics was spreaded through the gymnastic class. Swedish gymnastics accompanying music and rhythm became popular during Japanese occupation. Also, in september, 26 numbers of Nilsbuch showed gymnastic performance at Keongsung Stadium. In 1927. the first gymnastics competition named ‘Bar Competition’ was held under the sponsorship of the Central Christian Youth Association. Two gymnastics groups were established after independence .Those groups were integrated into the ‘Joseon Dynasty Gymnastics Federation’ and settled as Korean Gymnastics Association.

Construct validity and inter-rater reliability of the Gymnastic Functional Measurement Tool in the classification of female competitive gymnasts in Canada

ObjectivesTo determine the construct validity and the inter-rater reliability of the Gymnastic Functional Measurement Tool (GFMT) within the parameters of the Canadian classification of female competitive gymnasts. DesignValidity and Reliability study. SettingThe GFMT was administered by evaluators who had no previous knowledge of the competing level of the gymnasts. To determine the construct validity, a multiple linear regression analysis was carried out between the GFMT scores and the gymnasts’ competition level to obtain the coefficient of determination. To estimate the inter-rater reliability, gymnasts were simultaneously evaluated by two evaluators. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis was carried out for the individual score of each item as well as for the total score of the GFMT. ParticipantsNinety (90) female gymnasts aged between the ages of 8 and 18 years old. Main outcomeGFMT total score and individual score of each item. ResultsThe study demonstrated an excellent relationship between the total GFMT scores and the gymnasts’ competition level (r2 = 0.97). The inter-rater reliability analysis of the GFMT total score was excellent with an ICC of 0.98. ConclusionConstruct validity and inter-rater reliability of the GFMT in the classification of female competitive gymnasts in Canada has been demonstrated.

Effect of Carbohydrate Ingestion on Blood Glucose Concentration and Women’s Gymnastics Performance

The intent of this study was to report the effect of carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion during a women’s collegiate gymnastics competition on: 1) Blood glucose concentration; 2) Post-competition respiratory exchange ratio; 3) Gymnastics performance score. Thirteen college division three (D III) gymnasts volunteered to participate in a two-trial (placebo and CHO supplement) within-subjects study involving the ingestion of 120 ml of a 6.5% CHO solution and a placebo matched for volume, electrolyte content, color and flavor at 20-minute intervals during pre-season competition. Resting and recovery oxygen consumption (VO2), and respiratory exchange ratio (R-value) were measured using Douglas bag technique. Oxygen consumption was significantly greater during recovery, yet independent of drink. Blood glucose was measured at six time points with fingertip venous blood sample and an Ascensia Contour Monitor. Rate of increase blood glucose was greater with CHO supplementation. Blood glucose was 19% greater in the second and third interval and 21% greater in the fourth interval with CHO. Competition scores were not significantly different between condition, although average floor score was 0.30 better in the carbohydrate (9.17 ± 0.46) than placebo (8.87 ± 0.73) trial. This difference was close to significance (t = 2.035, df = 8, p = .076).

Adjusting to retirement from sport: narratives of former competitive rhythmic gymnasts

This study used narrative inquiry to understand the retirement experiences of rhythmic gymnasts. Eight female former competitive gymnasts (M age = 24.5, SD = 8.33) each participated in four life-history interviews. Following dialogical narrative analysis, three narrative typologies were outlined: Entangled Narrative, Going Forward Narrative and Making Sense Narrative. The entangled narrative shows an individual with a monological athletic identity, who is unable to develop a new identity following her retirement to the detriment of her well-being, and wishes to return to being a gymnast. The going-forward narrative describes those former gymnasts who were able to develop multiple identities during their gymnastics career, and are now flourishing in their life post-retirement. The making sense narrative is an emergent narrative, which transcends the previous two narratives. Findings expand narrative research by providing new narrative resources to understand the experience of retirement from gymnastics. These narrative resources might assist gymnasts to expand their narrative repertoire by raising awareness of different narratives available in their culture.