Changes in Gymnastics CompetitionGymnastics is a constantly evolving sport, with rule changes from year to year. Here, we highlight some changes you may notice from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, plus changes you can expect for the 2000 Sydney Games.
Kerri Strug performs the compulsory floor exercise at the 1996 National Championships. Strug was also the youngest member of the 1992 Olympic team.Age limits
At the 1996 Olympic Games, women and rhythmic gymnasts must be at least 15 years old, and men gymnasts must be 16. The age is measured by the end of the calendar year; that is, if a competitor in women's gymnastics is 15 years old by December 31, 1996 then, she is age-eligible to compete in the Games.
In 1997, the minimum age limit for women's gymnastics at a World Championships or Olympics will increase to 16. The limit for men and rhythmic will remain the same.
Rhythmic Groups
A new event in rhythmic gymnastics, the group, is being added to the 1996 Olympic program. A rhythmic group is composed of six athletes, five of which perform simultaneously on the same floor mat during a routine. The group will compete two exercises: a routine with five hoops, and a routine with two ribbons and three balls. All six of the group members must compete in at least one of the routines.
Kip Simons performing the compulsory vault, a Hecht.Compulsory exercises
In future Worlds and Olympics, compulsories will no longer be contested. Compulsories are prescribed routines that must be performed by every artistic gymnast. Atlanta will host the last international compulsory competition. Future championships will be decided on purely optional competition, where each gymnast performs uniquely choreographed routines.
Compulsories will, however, remain in the lower levels of gymnastics, for developmental purposes.
New team rules
In the last Olympics, teams in artistic gymnastics consisted of six members. All six members competed on each apparatus, with the top five scores summed from each apparatus to calculate the team total.
Beginning with the 1994 Worlds, the artistic team competition used a new format. Each team now consists of seven members. Of those seven, six compete on each apparatus. Of those six competitors, five scores count. As such, all gymnasts are no longer required to compete all events; also, a new element is now introduced into the team strategy, with coaches choosing a lineup on an event-by-event basis.
After the 1996 Olympics, the team format will change again, to a similar structure but with different numbers; the new format is the "6-5-4" rule.
USA Gymnastics' 1996 Olympic Games Homepage
[ Home ]
[ Index of Events ]
[ Index of 1996 Events ]
About USA Gymnastics Online.
Please report problems to our webmaster.
Copyright © 1996 USA Gymnastics. All rights reserved.URL: http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/events/1996/olympics/faq.html
