Rhythmic gymnastics.

By Mercè Cid

Rhythmic gymnastics is an old sport that was updated at the end of the 1950s. The world championships were held for the first time in 1963 and the sport was included as an Olympic discipline in 1984. In 1983 the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup was established.

Rhythmic gymnastics were not always the same as they are nowadays. Many changes were made in order to make it more attractive to wider audiences. It has been influenced by many factors, from fashion to social changes.

This sport can be practiced individually, in pairs or in groups, originally consisting of six gymnasts, although in the 1980s this number went up to eight. A performance can last from one and a half minutes (individual) to two and a half minutes (groups).

Gymnasts can use various props in a performance.

In this sport, the disciplines are characterized by the use of different props, such as balls, clubs, hoops, ropes and ribbons, which are used to accompany the music.

Rope: Material: hemp or any other synthetic material. Length: this depends on the height of the gymnast; it is measured from the tip of the foot up to the shoulders, folded in half.

Hoop: Material: wood or plastic (it must be rigid). Between 51 and 90 cm in diameter. It weighs at least 300 g.

Ball: Material: rubber or plastic. Between 18 and 20 cm in diameter. It weighs at least 400 g. Balls with figurative drawings are not accepted; only geometric designs are allowed.

Club: Material: wood or plastic. 50 cm long, more or less. It weighs 200-400 g.

Ribbon: Material: Satin or a non starchy material. Width: 4 cm to 6 cm. Length: at least 6 m. It weights at least 35 g.