Women’s Individual Rhythmic Gymnastics from Rio 2016 || A Sports Analysis
Rhythmic gymnastics, the performance of systematic physical exercise with the aid of such hand apparatuses as ropes, hoops, balls, clubs, and ribbons. It is closely related to women's artistic gymnastics—a sport performed on the vaulting horse, uneven parallel bars, balance beam, and floor—and, like synchronized swimming, is allied with dance (Bhutia, 2018).
Today's blog will focus on a given video, specifically, Full Individual Women's Rhythmic Gymnastics Replay from Rio 2016 | Throwback Thursday. This analysis will also consist of the court dimensions, equipment, basic skills, technical and tactical skills of each team, rules of the sport, officials of the sport, and the overall performance.
The FIG is an international organization based in Switzerland, so the measurements follow the metric system. An Olympic floor exercise mat must be 12 meters by 12 meters, which equals 39.37 feet by 39.37 feet. The standard distance from one corner to the opposite corner is 1,697 cm or 55.68 feet. Allowances are made for competitions in case the floor exercise measurements are not precise. For the length and width, the 12 meters has a 3 cm margin of error. The floor has to be within 5 cm of the standard measurement for the size from corner to corner.
The 12 meters by 12 meters measurement covers the performance area. As you may have noticed when watching Olympic gymnastics competitions, there is a thick border around the floor, often marked by white athletic tape. This is called a delimitation strip, and it measures 5 cm or just under 2 inches. A gymnast is permitted to step on the delimitation strip during competition without penalty, but if she moves beyond the border, a deduction will be made. Many floor exercise platforms are raised slightly to accommodate springs and foam padding. The slope leading from the floor to the floor exercise mat must not exceed a measurement of 25 percent (Oleskewicz, n.d.).
Gymnasts usually use leotards or singlets. Leotards can be short-sleeved or long-sleeved and cut at the groin area much like a bikini so that there will be no hindrance to an athlete's flexibility or movement.
Female gymnastics commonly have their hair tied back. No bangs or loose hair is allowed in the front. Its primary purposes are to prevent hair from getting in the way of a gymnast, provide a uniform and elegant look, and maintain focus on the athlete.
Toe shoes are specially designed professional shoes for rhythmic gymnastics. They cover toes while the heels remain open. Silicone elastic band fixes the toe of the shoes around the heel.
Made of plastic and wood, it is a circular apparatus with a diameter ranging from 51 to 90 centimeters. Gymnasts will be able to rotate it with either their hands or their body.
The ball is made of rubber or synthetic has a diameter of 18 to 20 centimeters, and its minimum weight is 4000 grams. When using the ball, it should rest in the gymnast's hand and should not be grasped or rest on the wrist. Gymnasts perform throws, as well as tricks such as bouncing and rolling the ball.
Resembling bowling pins, the clubs are of equal length, typically about 0.4 to 0.5metres long. They are made from wood or synthetic material. Gymnasts use the clubs to do tricks like circles -in which the clubs swing parallel to each other, mills - the clubs swing opposite each other, and throws and catches.
The ribbon is a single strip usually made of satin, attached to a stick made of wood or synthetic material. Gymnasts create all sorts of patterns with the ribbon, including spirals, circles and snakes. The gymnast must keep the ribbon in motion throughout the entire routine.
Walking- Both feet move alternately, with one foot always touching the ground or floor; when one foot goes down, the other foot comes up and moves forward.
Running- Running is a fast pace motion where both feet briefly leave the ground. Running is performed with the body leaning slightly forward, knees are flexed and lifted, and arms rotate back and forth from the shoulders with a bend at the elbows.
Leaping- Leaping is an elongated step used to cover more considerable distances or move over low obstacles.
Jumping- Jumping involves taking off and landing on both feet. The arms move forward with an upswing motion, and the body movement combined with the force of the feet helps lift the body's weight.
Hopping- Hopping involves propelling the body up and down on one foot.
Galloping- When galloping, the body faces forward and one-foot leads and the other moves rapidly forward to it.
Sliding- Sliding is similar to gallop. However, the body moves sideways in a 1-count movement. The leading footsteps to the side and the other foot follows quickly.
Skipping- Skipping is a series of step-hops done with alternate feet.
Bending- bending is a movement at a joint
Swaying- is a slower controlled movement that occurs when the center of gravity shifts fluidly from side to side.
Swinging- involves moving body parts like a swinging rope or pendulum. (Arms and Legs)
Turning- is rotating around the long axis of the body.
Twisting- is rotating a selected body part around its long axis.
Stretching- moves body parts away from the body's center, or moving a joint through a range of motion. Stretching is necessary for increasing and maintaining flexibility.
Swinging Movements- requires good alignment between the body and the hula-hoop. Hoops can be swung by the athletes in a frontal, sagittal, or horizontal plane.
Spinning Movements- Turning the hoop with both hands or one.
Circling Movements- Hoops can be twirled by hand, wrist, arm, leg, or entire body.
Tossing and Catching Movements- Toss the hoop in the air with one or both hands, then catch it with one hand between the thumb and index finger.
Rolling Movements- Roll the hoop on the floor in either a forward or backward direction. Or move it on the body in different ways.
Handling the ball: the fingers should be closed and slightly bent with the ball.
Throwing the ball: the ball can roll from the fingertips.
Catching the ball: the ball returns immediately to the palm.
Performances with clubs are fast and slick, showcasing the gymnast’s agility and accuracy, using their hands and wrists.
Core moves include circles when the clubs swing in the same direction and mills when the clubs swing in opposite directions.
As is the case with every piece of apparatus, throws require the most skill. The difference with this apparatus is that you can perform throws with one or both clubs.
Swinging Movements- involves large swinging motions that require whole-body coordination.
Circling Movements- Large circles involve the strength and movement of the whole arm; smaller circles involve the wrist movement.
Zigzag Movements- Zigzags can be made in the air or on the floor. Use the movement of the wrist.
Spiral Movements- Make spirals either from left to right or right to left.
Technical and Tactical Skills of Each Team
Margarita Mamun from Russia
Rotation 1 (Hoop): Mamun used the apparatus like it's attached to her body and made sure that the hoop works well at all the parts of her body, which made her a lot of smooth transitions. Every step that she had made were all pointed toes. In addition, illusion turns were her signature skills in this rotation and the way she moved the hoop were precise. She ended this rotation with the ring high up in the air and then caught it with a jump followed by a pose on the circle in her body. It was indeed a beautiful performance.
Rotation 2 (Ball): Mamun used passion and being expressive in her performance for the second rotations. The ball is said to be an extension of the body, and she used the apparatus quite well and made it connected to her. She also added complexity to her spins, leaps and jumps. The ways she ended her performance was lovely.
Rotation 3 (Club): Mamun chose her music to be the song "We Will Rock You by Queen". It was high beat music, and she used the apparatus like she was drumming. She was tricky enough in handling clubs and showing expertise. She also performed maximum extension of the jump, offering her flexibility to the audience, and then end the performance with a peace sign. It was kind of a different way to end the show.
Rotation 4 (Ribbon): Mamun's use of the ribbon was flawlessly and had a fast movement. She also threw the apparatus so high and still manage to catch it. She made it look like it was easy to perform around, even though we all know that it was challenging to do. Moreover, she had a clean and beautiful balance showing stability in her dance and consistency in using the ribbon skills.
Marina Durunda from Azerbaijan
Rotation 1 (Hoop): Durunda's performance was choosing a piece of beautiful music and matching it with her choreography. She was swift with the apparatus and catching it with extra movement. She also used three turning leaps and had perfect timing on her show showing exact direction and speed.
Rotation 2 (Ball): Durunda showed a strong personality in dribbling and throwing the ball high up in the air. Her hand movements were exaggerated and used excellent styles like having the ball contact her chest and rebound it. It was new to the eyes of the audience and found some originality in it.
Rotation 3 (Club): Durunda had the same type of music as the other athletes in which they had in-beat music. She has shown artistic expression in her performance, gaining additional points to her scoring. She also did flawlessly doing the routine and not had a hard time, and just enjoyed and did her best.
Rotation 4 (Ribbon): Durunda decided to match the ribbon with her costume. She has shown plenty of energy throughout her performance which made her used multiple skills underneath the spins and the jumps, a fantastic series of spins, and full extension of the leaps. She tended to throw the ribbon so high up in the air, and she quickly caught it without a sweat on it.
Yana Kudryavtseva from Russia
Rotation 1 (Hoop): Kudryavtseva started with ultimate control of the hoop with her body. She chose a slow and smooth song that synchronized with her movements in which she moved around the floor so lightly that she looks like she's floating in the air. In addition, she worked with the apparatus well, causing the apparatus and the body to all work in one piece. Moreover, she tended to roll in the back of the hoop and made medium illusion turns, which is considered difficult. She used complex movements like having a big throw on the apparatus and caught it with her leg. Then she slowly ended it with backspin and posed her last stance, which significantly impacted the audience.
Rotation 2 (Ball): Unlike other athletes, Kudryavtseva chose slow music that rhymes with her choreography. She has shown mastery of the elements that she has performed. What truly gained the audience's attention is when she spins the ball with her thumb while she did the side scale balance element. Moreover, the movement and the body are so smooth, and every transition along with the body is seamless and neverending. She has shown a flawless and beautiful performance.
Rotation 3 (Club): Kudryavtseva had control of the positions she has used, and the change of rhythm of her performance was seen clearly. She has shown good balance and unique use of the apparatus, causing her to demonstrate mastery. However, in the last stunt, she didn't catch the ball, causing her points to be deducted, and her rank have become second place.
Rotation 4 (Ribbon): Kudryavtseva has shown an elegant kind of performance. She used soft music and a lot of twirl in the apparatus. She did her best despite having a mistake in the third rotation. By this, she did her best on the last part, and she has formed beautiful body shapes in her performance. It is like the routine that she has shown is dancing and flowing around in the air.
Katsiaryna Halkina from Belarus
Rotation 1 (Hoop): Halkina started with a sitting position with pointed toes. She executed nice combinations of rotations and used lovely control of her series of spins. Then she ends it with the same position at the beginning of her performance.
Rotation 2 (Ball): Halkina used suspense Music and have shown tremendous leg strength, making the ball so high up in the hair. Thus, causing her to have reasonable control of the ball. All in all, she has done a well-executed performance.
Rotation 3 (Club): Unlike other athletes, Halkina’s song was not upbeat. Instead, it was slow and quite sad, which made her had expressive at the same time beautiful turns and jumps. She also had tremendous balance and executed high flying leaps. Moreover, she is good at using the apparatus in which she had a different movement of the clubs showcasing asymmetrical.
Rotation 4 (Ribbon): Halkina used her feet to handle the ribbon at the beginning. Her music was in a groovy kind of way then turned into upbeat. She had excellent control of the apparatus and matched it with some dance steps. She also has shown plenty of energy, and the ways she ends her performance portray a circle pattern with a lot of twirls on her spin.
Kseniya Moustafaeva from France
Rotation 1 (Hoop): Moustafaeva made her opening with a lovely high and showcasing emotions right away to match her selected music. She made her balance smoothly and cleanly and have shown total concentration in her performance. She also used leaps that are fixed in shape and are high enough to get that shape acquired. All in all, she has shown outstanding performance.
Rotation 2 (Ball): Moustafaeva start was a serious face matching with the dynamic and robust music they have shown. She had good alleviation and had a somewhat abstract choreography. Simultaneously, she also had strong legs, which emphasizes her excellent control of the ball. However, in the middle part, she was losing the power that she had but still able to end it with a good performance.
Rotation 3 (Club): Moustafaeva decided to be lively and have shown by swaying her hips that rhymes with the music. As a dynamic gymnast, she has chosen the music which suited her style. The way she used the apparatus are sometimes symmetrical and asymmetrical and showcasing succession of the throws, which are astounding,
Rotation 4 (Ribbon): Moustafaeva’s expression was used in the ribbon to convey the song much well. She was very consistent with her performance but still sometimes showed a hard time controlling the ribbon. Despite that, she showcased a dazzling and dramatic performance.
Melitina Staniouta from Belarus
Rotation 1 (Hoop): Staniouta's intense music matched with her choreography, and she has shown excellent performance. The techniques she has shown were all astounding in which one of them was rebounding the hoop with her legs. Then she ended her performance by catching the hoop while lying down.
Rotation 2 (Ball): Staniouta has shown a fantastic performance. The way she moved and balanced herself on dramatic music. She used the ball and rolled them around her arms which was excellent to see. She also has shown beautiful spins and jumps on her routine. All in all, she combined sports and arts on her show.
Rotation 3 (Club): Staniouta decided to have piano phased for her performance. She has showcased to the audience her spins and jumps that are well-executed. She also attached expressions making her dance more expressive enough, so she had a breathtaking effect on the audience.
Rotation 4 (Ribbon): Staniouta used the apparatus as she was enjoying the routine and performed her very best. She has used her signature turns and had succeeding movements. She also threw the ribbon across the court, causing it almost to exceed the court's line. However, she was able to catch it and still able to continue her dance well.
Carolina Rodriguez from Spain
Rotation I (Hoop): Rodriguez decided to be suspenseful and had a definite style selling to the audience and the judges. She made large throws of the apparatus and executed back illusion multiple times. It was quite a sassy performance, and she showed a model of consistency and expressiveness. To end it, she looked at the judges and gave a breathtaking smile to them, showing that she had fun throughout her performance.
Rotation 2 (Ball): It was a dramatic dance for Rodriguez and has shown expression. It was considered a mature performance since she indeed brought her personality and expressed what she wanted to convey. She was also an expert at illusion turns and executed a series of them as to why her performance was consistent.
Rotation 3 (Clubs): Rodriguez has shown lively and fast movements in her performance, and her expression was severe and sometimes fierce throughout the show. She had the consistency of turns and executed massive throws of the clubs. At the same time, she was showcasing synchronization with the apparatus. Thus, it leads to thinking that clubs may be her most substantial apparatus to use.
Rotation 4 (Ribbon): Expressions were found at the beginning. The turns or twirls of the ribbon were synchronized with the selected music. Rodriguez shone all the techniques used for the apparatus and have performed complicated back illusions turns which she matched to tune well.
Rotation 1(Hoop): Yeon Jae’s flowery costume was catchy and making her look fresh looking. It made her performance to looked smooth and put some moves on the classic lines that she has selected for her music. Moreover, she had exhibited immense control over her movements. Incredibly, her throws shone through her routine. All in all, she had managed to utilize the apparatus well.
Rotation 2 (Ball): Clean and Elegance was Yeon Jae’s main asset in her performance with the ball apparatus. She has shown precise body movements, and the placement of her feet and arms were stunning to look at, especially if she will emphasize them.
Rotation 3 (Club): Yeon Jae’s started with an exquisite turn and flawless control of the club. She has showcased an excellent performance with opening strong pivots and circles behind it. She has shown a bewildering performance.
Rotation 4 (Ribbon): Yeon Jae’s float made the leaps execution to be around and perplexing. She made her movements with the changing phase of the music, which matched it well to her performance. She tended to throw the apparatus with her foot and still catching with ease. Overall, she showcased an astounding performance.
Ganna Rizatdinova from Ukraine
Rotation 1 (Hoop): The shape and the pointing of the toes are what really seen in Rizatdinova's performance. It was intense, and the flexibility that she performed was way beyond. She also had executed complicated yet magnificent movements, which all lead to a great ending.
Rotation 2 (Ball): Rizatdinova's had an excellent technique in which she trapped the ball around her back and legs. She also started to sway her hips and shoulders like she's dancing around. The way she shaped her legs and made them move was excellent, and she had her eyes concentrated on the ball whenever she moved. She has shown astonishing performance.
Rotation 3 (Club): Rizatdinova's start was impressive. It was technically beautiful on the speed of her movements and the club's balancing in one foot. It was great done, especially the control of the apparatus's balance and even with all of her events. She also showed symmetrical throws of the ball and ended it with a passion and drama performance.
Round 4 (Ribbon): It was a precise start for Rizatdinova. She appeared to have good balance and her throws of the ribbon are high and still able to catch it quickly and flawlessly. The movement of the ribbon was well exaggerated and robust. Also, she danced when the time is almost in one minute and proven to the audience she had excellent execution.
Nevianna Vladinova from Bulgaria
Rotation 1 (Hoop): Vladinova made her apparatus turn in the leg and made series of turns on it. She also tended to squeeze the hoop around her body and showcased that her choreography was capitalized or defined to the audience.
Rotation 2 (Ball): Starting with fast and upbeat music made Vladinova had a lovely catch of the ball. At the same time, she used her expressions to match with music and her movements. Her movements were energetic, and has executed her routine without fail. She has also shown her flexibility and skills in her performance.
Rotation 3 (Club): In the beginning, Vladinova showed how flexible she is and fast with her movements. The change of pace of the gestures was there even though the music and the rhythm were still rapid. It was a clever use of the music since it enhanced more of her performance. Furthermore, she has used skills or techniques on her execution, like rebounding the club on her knee, which was quite different from other players. Overall, she has shown a dynamic performance.
Rotation 4 (Ribbon): Vladinova was the end performer for the Olympic for Rhythmic Gymnastics and still showed how calm she is and without being nervous at all. Her fast movements and choreography match the music very well. She simply did her best and made a lively and energetic performance that is good to end the Olympics.
Rhythmic gymnastics combines ballet, dance and acrobatics with expressive movement and manipulating apparatuses such as the ball, clubs, hoop, and ribbon.
This sport is ideal for developing flexibility, strength, as well as body coordination. It stems from various dance styles and exercise regimes that share the common idea of expressive movement as an exercise tool.
During the individual programme, an athlete will manipulate only one of these five apparatuses at a time - rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon. One apparatus is rotated out of contention every two years, with the gymnast required to compete on the remaining four events.
All routines must be performed with music, with only short pauses of music allowed. The choreography must centre around a theme developed from beginning to end using a variety of body movements and the handling of apparatuses.
All leaps and jumps must be of a good height, have a precise shape and good amplitude.
All leaps with the back arched must have the head in contact with the leg.
All balances must be performed on the toes or the knee. These must be held clearly and have a good, fixed shape.
All pivot combinations must be performed entirely on the toes without heel support.
Each gymnast must perform choreographed routines using each of the following four pieces of apparatus:
Performances in rhythmic gymnastics are given a maximum of 20, comprising difficulty (D) and execution (E) scores.
The D score is based on each performance element, including leaps, jumps and use of apparatus. These D scores are averaged to give a score out of 10.
The E score is based on how well the routine was executed either by the individual or the group. The final number is an average of the middle three scores awarded by the judges.
The D and E scores are combined at this stage, giving a mark out of 20. Then, any deductions are taken away. The list of instant deductions is incredibly long and complex in rhythmic gymnastics. Competitors can be penalized for anything from breaking the apparatus to landing heavily on their feet.
o Good Form and Execution: In elements such as leaps and jumps, a gymnast's toes should be pointed. Her legs should be straight. She should maintain tightness in her body and each skill should look planned.
o Control of the Apparatus: The gymnast should keep her equipment moving and look as if she has complete control. Dropping the apparatus is a deduction. If the equipment rolls away or off the floor, more penalties are incurred.
o Flexibility: Rhythmic gymnasts should achieve a minimum of a 180-degree split on split leaps and jumps, and often they go much further. A great rhythmic gymnast will exhibit flexibility in her back, legs, and shoulders.
o Choreography: The intricacies of movement are essential in rhythmic gymnastics. Each routine should be a performance, and the gymnast's music should be a necessary part of the routine, not simply used as background music.
o The Uniqueness of the Routine: A great gymnast will perform a routine that looks different from the rest. It will have something special about it, risky throws and catches, complicated choreography, extreme flexibility, or simply unique skills from others performed in the competition.
Conducts the judge’s education meeting prior to the event,
Makes the panel assignments or conducts a draw,
Has ultimate control over technical decisions,
Judges every routine within human possibility,
Can question a panel score, even if the judges are in range, if she feels it is not appropriate,
Can call a conference of either judging panel, can make the decision to go to base score,
Keeps track (with the help of an assigned volunteer secretary) of all scores and rankings,
Determines the number of sessions in association with the meet director,
Makes sure the timers and line judges are knowledgeable about the rules and their function,
Serves as the spokesperson for the judging panels to the organizing host and the participants,
Makes sure the Head Judges review the official score sheets before signing them,
Mediates all professional disagreements, and has the final response,
Is responsible for any media involvement concerning the judges,
Respond to any written inquires before a session has ended.
Attends pre-competition education session,
Makes sure judges scores are within the proper range,
Requests the MR to call a conference if there is a disagreement,
Keeps track of rank order for assigned events.
Attends pre-competition education session,
Judges each routine assigned with undivided attention.
A Line Judge determines if the athlete and the apparatus are within the boundaries of the field of play. There are two line judges for each individual routine, and you will be responsible for the two lines that are in your “corner”of the carpet. Each judge is responsible for the line to their right. The red line denotes the warning area, and if the athlete or their apparatus touches the line they are still in bounds. If any part of the athlete’s body and / or apparatus touches the floor outside of the red line, then she is out-of-bounds and the judge immediately hold up one flag high in the air for a few seconds. If both the apparatus and gymnast touches the floor outside of the red line, then immediately hold up both flags high in the air for a couple of seconds.
Each timer requires a stop watch that indicates the minutes, seconds and milliseconds, a rotation order, timer judge chits and a pen.
Procedure to follow as a Timer Judge:
Have a Rotation List available.
Check off each gymnast as they are announced so that you know which gymnast is on the floor.
Start the timer when the gymnast starts moving (or first gymnast in group), and stop the timer when the gymnast stops moving (or the last gymnast in group). Record the time to the millisecond on the rotation order. For example, 1:30:05. If the routine is over or less than the required time (times to be provided by the Meet Director), then also complete the Timer Judge Chit.
Give the timer judge slip to a runner to take to the head judge for inclusion in the scoring papers.
The primary responsibilities of the Judge Administrator are to act as the GCG representative at EC and CC, to ensure that all Judge Rules and Technical Rules are followed, and to ensure that all score ranges are within FIG requirements. The JA does not act as a reference judge and does not score the routines.
Every apparatus will be checked during the Warm-Up prior to the start of the competition rotation. If there is a fault with the apparatus measurement, the apparatus judge will show the coach, so the athlete has time to change apparatus. If a coach/athlete refuses to change apparatus, the Apparatus Judge will retain the piece of apparatus, complete the judge chit and send it to the JA immediately. The JA will come to verify the concern as soon as is possible, but it may not be until a break in the competition. The apparatus must be retained until the JA has completed the verification.
All in all, all the athletes have shown their determination and passion in doing Rhythmic Gymnastics. They were different techniques and tactics with their stunts, leaps, jumps, and spins using the four various apparatuses: hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon. With all their performance, the audience has been amazed and enjoyed the execution of ten different athletes. However, there is always one winner in the competition, and Margarita Mamun from Russia was the one who claims the gold medal for Rio Olympics 2016 in Rhythmic Gymnastics. The sweat, the never-ending stunts and no-fault steps or movements were what made the audience amazed by her performance, leading her to be the right one to gain the first place. She gave the audience an outstanding performance.
