History of Aerobic Gymnastics

Aerobic Gymnastics has not only been a great form of physical training for the general public since the end of the 1980's, but also a top-level competitive sport.

Aerobic Gymnastics presents dynamic moves, strength, flexibility, co-ordination and musicality in a routine, lasting up to 1 minute 50 seconds.

The categories are: Individual Men, Individual Women, Mixed Pairs, Trios and (from 2002) Groups of 6 gymnasts.

The routine is performed on a 7 x 7 m area except for the Groups which is on a 10 x 10 m area.

Aerobic Gymnastics is the ability to perform continuous complex and high intensity movement patterns to music, which originate from traditional aerobic exercises:  the routine must demonstrate continuous movement, flexibility, strength and the utilisation of the seven basic steps, with perfectly executed all the movements including the difficulty elements.

The winning routine must show clean and balanced movements with perfect technique. The routine must include at least one element from the 4 element families which present dynamic strength, static strength, jumps / leaps and flexibility / balance and may include a maximum of 12 elements in total.

The competitor must also demonstrate combinations of aerobic movement patterns with arms and feet, including the seven basic aerobic steps: March, Jog, Skip, Knee Lift, Kick, Jack and Lunge.

The word aerobic literally means «with oxygen» or «in presence of oxygen». Aerobic exercise is a form of exercise that utilizes oxygen to produce energy, which must last for more than 20 minutes if the participant is to achieve Target Heart Rate.  This trains cardiovascular system (heart, lungs).

As the heart muscle becomes stronger and more efficient, a larger amount of blood can be pumped with each stroke. Fewer strokes are then required to rapidly transport oxygen to all parts of the body. An aerobically fit individual can work longer, more vigorously and achieve quicker recovery at the end of an aerobic session.

The International Gymnastic Federation (FIG) - the only recognised body for Aerobic Gymnastics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the International World Games Association (IWGA) - included and developed this sports discipline in its General Gymnastics activities since the latter half of the 1980's.

In 1994, the FIG Congress decided to organize World Championships and began to structure Aerobic Gymnastics in a similar way to its other competitive sports disciplines. The first Official World Championships were held 1995 in Paris (34 countries). In 1997, the IWGA (International World Games Association). included Aerobic Gymnastics in its programme of the 5th World Games (Lahti, FIN).

It is difficult to determine the number of people practising Aerobic Gymnastics, but in Brazil alone half a million people participate. 74 nations of the 125 member federations of the FIG have affiliated Aerobic Gymnastics to their overall programme. Leading nations who have provided World Medallists are; Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Romania, Russia and Spain.