Level ten gymnast Ava Bruegger was competing for Northfield Gymnastics Club (NGC). She was competing on the bars while in warm ups she unfortunately fell a ton of times on her yaeger. When it came time to compete, the suspense was unbearable. To everyone’s surprise, she made it. The crowd went wild. Ava Brueegger says, “ Even before the season began, I was determined to master the yaeger. I pushed myself every day, despite the soreness, because I was committed to improving and competing at my best.” Gymnastics is a sport that takes a lot of work. It is a sport where gymnasts have to have courage to try new things and it definitely helps with confidence too. Gymnastics has many other benefits to it.
In gymnastics, participants get to learn a lot of new flips. There are other types of gymnastics too. For example, there are boys, artistic, rhythmic, trampoline, and more, according to Live About. Gymnastics is all about practice and hard work. Most gymnasts believe if gymnasts have confidence and dedication, that is the key to succeeding. Gymnastics helps with strength, mentally and physically.
Gymnastics has four events which are uneven bars, floor exercise, balance beam and vault. The uneven bars are two bars next to each other, one of which is higher than the other. The floor exercise is like a normal floor but it has springs on the bottom. A balance beam is four inches wide, it is sixteen and a half feet long, and depending on the setting it can be high or low off the ground. Vault is like a grippy table with a rounded side. Gymnasts can put a spring board in front of it to give the gymnast power when you hit it so it is easier to get over the table.
At NGC, there are two gyms that are being used. One is just called NGC but the other one is called Tumble Bugs. Tumble Bugs is for toddler and baby classes. At NGC, they have a boys team, a girls team, an adult team, and recreational gymnastics. Both of the gyms are located in Northfield; they are across the street from each other. NGC encourages anyone of any age to join; it is never too late to join. The rec classes for older kids are in the same gym as the team kids. They love being in the same gym. It is nice because the younger kids have a lot of fun watching the older kids perform their routines.
Emily Hooker on level five says, “I got into gymnastics because my aunt signed me up for some rec classes and after going to them I just never stopped.” Most gymnasts start at a young age but it is never too late. People can get involved by going to the website and finding the section for signing up. If someone is trying it for the first time and doesn’t know what level they are, they can get a test. When someone does a test a coach will tell them what level to sign up for. Gymnasts get involved and get semi-serious the coaches will let the gymnasts go to a trainer and go to a dance coach they hired. It helps with technique and strength.
Gymnastics is a sport that has many benefits. In gymnastics, people are super kind and positive. Gymnastics is a team and individual sport so everyone cheers each other on. There are so many reasons why people may join gymnastics. A lot of people join for the strength they gain, the fun they may have, and the mental impact it can have on the gymnast.
