Getting Started

Women’s gymnastics is the most popular discipline of the sport in the UK and one of the biggest crowd pleasers at every Olympic Game since 1928.  The sport demands body control, body awareness, suppleness, stamina, coordination, amplitude and courage.  Routines are performed on 4 pieces of apparatus: Vault, uneven bars, beam and floor.

The World Championships for Women have been organised since 1934; the European Championships began in 1957 and the National Championships for women in England were introduced in 1924.

Men’s gymnastics requires all round fitness through: strength, mobility, endurance, flexibility, body control and co-ordination. Routines are performed on six pieces of apparatus: floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar.

The first British Championships was organised in 1896 and the first British Champion ever was H. L. Cain from “Orion” Gym Club. An Olympic discipline; GB has won two medals:  Individual Silver won by Walter Tysall in 1908 (London) and Team Bronze medal in 1912 (Stockholm).

Kit you'll need

Clubs will provide all the equipment you will need and so to start with you just need some comfortable clothing.  As you progress you will probably want to invest in a leotard and tracksuit and you may want to wear your club or even national colours and badges.

As always, you should stay hydrated when you are training so take a drinks bottle in your bag…

What's Good

Gymnastics is an accessible and inclusive sport offering opportunities to all ability levels and ethnic groups within a range of controlled learning environments. It promotes an active and healthy lifestyle and is recognised as forming the basis for physical literacy by developing fundamental movement skills.

Interest in the sport has never been stronger. Hundreds of thousands of young gymnasts enjoy the sport in the school environment, take part in the recreational sessions offered at many leisure centres, and enjoy membership of British Gymnastics registered clubs that offer a complete development pathway from beginner through to Olympian.

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