Acrobatics as a new trend in Aerobic Gymnastics

Abstract

Aerobic Gymnastics (AG) is a relatively young kind of sport in which athletes perform continuous, complex and high-intensity aerobic movement patterns to music. Code of Point (COP) in Aerobic Gymnastics modifies every 4 years in accordance with the world trends, reduce the subjectivity of judge panel and introduce new requirements at competitions. One of these requirements of COP edition 2017-2021 is the integration of acrobatic elements into the AG routine of athletes. This paper attempts to show the significance of integrating acrobatic preparedness into the training process of AG athletes to make the athletes more competitive at World Championships. Thus, we identified which acrobatic elements were used in the routine of the finalists of the Aerobics Gymnastics World Championships (2018), by analysing the content of the finalists’ routine performed. Consequently, we classified acrobatics used in Artistic, Difficulty and Lifts. The results obtained confirmed the fact that acrobatics used in routines of elite athletes was more focused in Artistic. Then, we integrated acrobatic elements into the training processof AG athletes of Tyumen, Russia, which have led to the positive changes in the acrobatic technical preparedness of the athletes. This study provides new insights into acrobatic elements in the AG routines.