How Does a Gymnast Train?
Starting Young
Gymnasts must start training at a young age. This is primarily done for the sake of preserving the natural flexibility that the human body has in childhood but later loses because of lack of use and the binding effects of rapid muscle growth during puberty. The other advantages of training gymnasts early (starting at about 5 or 6 years of age) are that children have more time to learn and practice their skills and have an easier time overcoming instinctual fears connected to some of the risky or uncomfortable acrobatic maneuvers.
Standard Workout
A standard gymnast's daily training and workout schedule is designed around body health, conditioning and event training. This workout will start with a warm-up and stretching session to prevent potential injuries by loosening up and warming the muscles. The rest of a day's training will consist of event skills training and practice, either followed or preceded by a shorter strength training workout. Flexibility is maintained through event skills training and stretching.
The difference in workout and practice regimen between casual and more serious competitive gymnasts tends to be quantitative rather than qualitative. Casual athletes may practice as little as a few hours multiple times a week, whereas a gymnast training for national competitions or aiming as high as the Olympics will likely spend upward of 50 to 60 hours a week in the gym.
Compulsory Vs. Optional
Young children in gymnastics will train and practice on all forms of events, whereas older gymnasts will have the option to focus on their best areas. The more advanced gymnastics competitions will feature athletes who specialize in a particular event.
Female and male gymnastics differ somewhat in terms of events offered. For male gymnasts, the event choices consist of floor exercises, pommel horse, steel rings, vault, parallel bars and high bars. For female gymnasts, the events are floor exercises, balance beam, vault and uneven parallel.
Diet
Like all athletes, gymnasts must maintain a healthy diet as a part of proper training. A gymnast's diet should have a good balance of food groups and sufficient vitamins and minerals, little or no junk food, and plenty of water. Gymnasts also benefit from diets that are high in protein. Heavy concentrations of carbohydrates, especially in the days preparing for a competition, are often favored.
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