41 Rhythmic gymnastics was first recognised as a sport in 1963 and became an Olympic sport in 1984. Do you know of any other women-only or men-only sports? Unlike other artistic gymnastics disciplines, jumps can often end not standing up, but in a push up or split position (a sitting position in which the legs are in line with each other and extended in opposite directions). club: clavetta flair: stile flick: scatto hoop: cerchio knot: nodo leap: balzo skipping: salto con la corda spin: rotazione throw: lancio wrist: polso RHYTHMIC AND AEROBIC GYMNASTICS Rhythmic gymnastics Rhythmic gymnastics is an Olympic sport in which gymnasts perform on a 12 x 12m floor accompanied by music and using an apparatus they have to handle while executing the routine. It is a very chorographic sport which combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and gymnastics and that requires agility, coordination, grace, and strength. At international levels, rhythmic gymnastics is a women-only sport , but in recent years Japan, France, and Spain have allowed men to participate in regional and national competitions. Currently, a gymnast can perform in individual events or in group events with four other athletes. The apparatuses are: Ball, whose diameter is 18-20 cm and with a minimum weight of 400 gr. The ball should rest in the gymnast s hand and not against the wrist; Ribbon, which is usually made of satin and whose minimum length is 6 m. The gymnasts handle the ribbon from the stick at its end while performing flicks, circles, snakes, spirals, and throws. Any knots which may accidentally form in the ribbon during the execution are penalised; Clubs weigh a minimum of 150 grams each. They are thrown from alternate hands and caught in the opposite hand to the one from which they were thrown. Each club is required to rotate at least once per throw, however, double and triple spins are frequently performed, too; Hoop, which is chosen based on the gymnast s height and whose interior diameter is between 51 and 90 cm. A hoop routine includes rotations around the hand or body, swings, circles, throws, and passes through and over the hoop; Rope, whose length is based on the gymnast s height. A rope routine includes leaps and skipping, swings, throws, circles, and rotations. Aerobic gymnastics Aerobic gymnastics is not an Olympic sport but has international championships. It is performed entirely on music and on an area of 7m 2. Nine different events are held: Individual Women, Individual Men, Mixed Pairs, Trios, Group (five athletes), Step, and Dance (these last two categories with eight athletes). The last four include different genders of athletes. The main elements in a routine are: Flairs, in which the gymnasts balance their torso between their arms while swinging their legs beneath in continuous circles; Support variations, in which the gymnasts lift hips and legs supporting their body only with the hands; Leaps and jumps , in which the gymnasts have to demonstrate explosive power and maximum amplitude; Planche, in which the gymnasts balance on their hands with the rest of the body parallel to the floor. 84 TO DO