Is Gymnastics More Than Just Twisting in the Air?
The popularity of artistic gymnastics has been driven by its thrilling adrenaline and monumental contributions to Philippine history. It featured athletes who dedicated their entire lives to turning their childhood dreams into reality, eventually claiming the title of an Olympian. But what does it truly take for these athletes to pursue their Olympic dreams?
Artistic gymnastics features individual and team competitions on various apparatuses: floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar for men, as well as vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise for women.
On August 2, 2024, Simone Biles of the USA clinched gold in the individual all-around, scoring 59.131 and making a remarkable comeback after her withdrawal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Biles is the most decorated Olympic gymnast of all time, with eight Olympic medals already under her belt. Following Biles with a gap of 19.99 points, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade secured second position with a score of 57.932, while Sunisa Lee of the USA, despite battling two kidney diseases, took third place with a score of 56.465.
Later on the women's floor, Andrade surpassed Biles with a reigning score of 14.166. Following up with a gap of 0.33 points were Biles and Jordan Chiles of the USA, who scored 13.766.
In the men's individual all-around, Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka, competing in his first major global championship, secured first place with a leading score of 86.83. Following closely were China's Zhang Boheng, who moved from 20th place to finish with a score of 86.599, and Xiao Ruoteng with 86.364.
In this year's Olympics, gymnast Carlos Yulo of the Philippines made history as the country’s first double Olympic gold medalist, earning millions of dollars in incentives for his remarkable achievement.
“I realized that your greatest opponent is yourself. If you don’t focus on what you do, you are bound to finish last,’’ said Yulo.
Yet, despite their impressive achievements, the path for gymnasts is far from easy. Gymnastics is known for its high risk of injuries. For instance, silver medalist Andrade sustained three ACL injuries yet still made it to the Olympics and won five medals. Despite knowing these high risks, several gymnasts still pursue the sport for its unique blend of artistry and the enjoyment it brings them.
Aside from being physically challenging, gymnastics also demands immense mental strength. For instance, twisties are a mental block that causes gymnasts, including Biles, to lose orientation while they are in the air doing their performance. In the last 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Biles prioritized mental health, opting to withdraw from team-and all around finals, recognising the risks of performing in such conditions. Her decision emphasized the importance of mental health in sports and the necessity of athletes’ well-being over performance. From mental blocks such as the twisties to the lack of motivation, athletes must cope with the pressure to achieve perfection. These gymnasts are constantly critiqued by judges and coaches, with each move determining their score.
As Biles puts it, “It doesn't matter where you start, it's where you're going and how you pick yourself back up from those falls and just dream big and dream bigger after that cause you never know where your dream will take you.”
In the face of the overwhelming challenges gymnastics demands from its athletes, it remains worth pursuing for those who are passionate about it. Athletes like Biles and Yulo illustrate how countless hours of training and perseverance can lead to achievements and glory. Though the risks may be significant, the deep sense of accomplishment makes it all worthwhile. Gymnastics is not just about twisting in the air; it's the result of mind and body working in perfect harmony.