Benefits of Gymnastics at Olympica

Building the Foundation for All Sports

Gymnastics is the foundation of all sports–its elements and mechanics are present in nearly every movement an athlete of any variety makes. This holds true with both the traditional disciplines whose origins date back centuries into the first Olympic Games, or the always expanding list of non-traditional or “extreme” sports highlighted in the X-Games or modern martial arts. Training in gymnastics leads to a more well-rounded athlete, and those with a background in gymnastics naturally adapt to and excel in other sports.

Overall strength and fast-twitch muscle movement is critical in just about every sport or physical activity. Developing the type of full-body strength that gymnastics fosters simply cannot be achieved in the weight room alone. The sport of gymnastics is responsible for developing some of the strongest and most agile athletes in the world, men and women alike, which is why seasoned athletes and coaches use so many elements of our sport to grow stronger in their own, and why modern strength training and fitness is evolving to resemble gymnastics more and more.

Too many athletes overlook the importance of flexibility in relation to their particular discipline. Gymnasts cannot afford to do so, as every event hinges on this developed ability. Those athletes who do recognize the benefits of a flexible body are less prone to common and serious injuries alike and can have a true competitive edge as well.

Gymnastics teaches the fundamentals of spatial awareness that apply to all sports, especially skateboarding, snowboarding, parkour, and others that have grown in popularity over recent decades. Being aware of how your body is moving and where it is in relation to the ground is critical, and it is the key to preventing serious injuries.

Gymnastics skills across all the women’s and men’s events not only number in the thousands. Because of this vast and ever evolving variety of skills in gymnastics, the sport’s techniques are found and borrowed more and more across countless professional and amateur athletics worldwide. Among others, martial arts, diving, countless X-Games events, American dance styles and cheer-leading rely heavily on gymnastics fundamentals and specific advanced skills alike.

One common thread between the vast number of different gymnastics skills is that they all require an acute attention to form and balance in every aspect. Proper execution is not only essential to scoring high but even more so in remaining safe during the learning process. The discipline and focus on detail in gymnastics is unparalleled, and it empowers our young students as much in their physical activities as it does in academics and many other aspects of life.