3.
Nunomura, Myrian, et al.
(author)
Coming of Age in Women Artistic Gymnastics: The influence of rules on career development
2015
In: 12th European Association for Sociology of Sport Conference, 10-13 Juni, 2015, Dublin, Ireland.
Conference paper (other academic/artistic) abstract
Age has long been debated in women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG). Since the 1970s, young gymnasts with pre-pubescent physiques and extreme levels of performance tend to dominate the sport. Growing critique of the problematic side-effects of this trend led the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to introduce the minimum age limit of 16 for international competitions in 1996. Since then, the FIG has implemented further changes through their rules book the Code of Points, which have implications for gymnasts’ career development. In drawing on results from an interview study with more than 20 internationally successful gymnasts who are/were over the age of 20 when competing, as well as coaches and judges, this presentation discusses the impact of the Code of Points on career development. The findings demonstrate that on the one hand, stakeholders spoke of how the Code of Points related to gymnasts extending their career into their twenties. In particular, the changes towards artistry are important criteria that interviewees related to career continuation. On the other hand, the increased difficulty requirements since the beginning of 2000 continue to place enormous pressures on gymnasts to train intensely from a young age. The physical demands and the risk for injuries detriment gymnasts’ career prolongation. We conclude that although the FIG has made some efforts to encourage the presence of older gymnasts, these have only been semi-successful, with a younger, pre-pubescent body still viewed as ideal for WAG.
5.
Kerr, Roslyn, et al.
(author)
THE PRODUCTION OF THE ADULT GYMNAST: TOWARDS BEST PRACTICE IN WOMEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
2014
In: AIESEP World Congress, 10-13 February 2014, Auckland, New Zealand.
Conference paper (other academic/artistic) abstract
Since the performances of famous gymnasts such as Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci in the 1970s, women's artistic gymnastics has been characterised as a problematic child sport (Barker-Ruchti, 2009; Kerr, 2006). Numerous studies have identified medical and psychological issues associated with competing at a high level at a young age, such as stunted growth, bone deformity and distorted body image (see for example, Caine et. al., 2001; Daly, Bass & Finch, 2001; Dresler et. al., 1997; Lindholm, Hagenfeldt & Hagmann, 1995; Mellercowicz, et. al., 2000; Tofler et. al., 1996). However, recently there have been several gymnasts appearing at the highest international level of considerably older age, the most famous being Oksana Chusovitina who has competed at six Olympic Games including London at age 37. To date, there has been no research examining older gymnasts and the effects of seeing 'older' bodies on the gymnastics competition floor. This presentation will discuss findings from an interview study examining the experiences of older gymnasts and the factors that have led to the prolonging of their careers, together with an examination of how the existence of older gymnasts affects the perception of the sport. The findings will be analysed through identifying childhood and adulthood as social constructions. For example, in the Western world, childhood is positioned as a place for ‘play’ and adulthood for ‘paid work’ neither of which fit easily with gymnastics training which usually entails long hours of unpaid work for both children and adults. Gymnastics remains an amateur sport, with no professional leagues that allow gymnasts to be paid for their work and only limited prize money. This presentation will shed light on how participants’ understandings of what constitutes childhood and adulthood have influenced their choices to participate in gymnastics into adulthood. References Barker-Ruchti, N. (2009). Ballerinas and pixies: A genealogy of the changing gymnastics body. International Journal of the History of Sport, 26, 43-61. Caine, D., Lewis, R., O’Connor, P., Howe, W., & Bass, S. (2001). Does gymnastics training inhibit growth of females? Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 11, 260-270. Daly, R.M., Bass, S.L. & Finch, C.F. (2001). Balancing the risk of injury to gymnasts: how effective are the counter measures? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 35, 8-19. Dresler, C. M., Forbes, K., O'Connor, P. J., Lewis, R. D., Glueck, M. A., Tofler, I. R., et al. (1997). Physical and emotional problems of elite female gymnasts. New England Journal of Medicine, 336, 140 - 142. Kerr, R. (2006). The Impact of Nadia Comaneci on the sport of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Sporting Traditions, 23(1) November 2006, pp. 87 – 102. Lindholm, C., Hagenfeldt, K., & Hagmann, U. (1995). A nutrition study in juvenile elite gymnasts. Acta Paediatrica, 84, 273-277. Mellerowicz, H., Matussek, S., Leier, T., & Asamoah, V. (2000). Sportverletzungen und Sportschäden im Kindes- und Jugendalter - eine Übersicht. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin, 51(3), 78-84.
