Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance, grace and passion for the sport. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) with each country having its own national governing body affiliated to FIG. Competitive Artistic gymnastics is the best known of the gymnastic sports. It typically involves the women's events of uneven parallel bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault. Men's events include floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. Gymnastics evolved from exercises used by the ancient Greeks, that included skills for mounting and dismounting a horse, and from circus performance skills.

Other gymnastic sports include rhythmic gymnastics, the various trampolining sports, aerobic and acrobatic gymnastics.

Participants can include children as young as five years old doing kindergym and children's gymnastics, recreational gymnasts of ages 5 and up, competitive gymnasts at varying levels of skill, and world class athletes.

Etymology

The word derives from the Greek ''γυμναστική'' (''gymnastike''), fem. of ''γυμναστικός'' (''gymnastikos''), "fond of athletic exercises", from ''γυμνάσια'' (''gymnasia''), "exercise" and that from ''γυμνός'' (''gymnos''), "naked", because athletes exercised and competed without clothing.

History

Exercises of the ancient Greeks began with athletic feats performed by each individual according to his own notion. The youth were encouraged to combine amusement with exercise. In time, this kind of exercise was incorporated into a system that figured prominently in the state regulations for education. In fact, the period for exercise or gymnastics was equal to the time spent on art and music combined. All Greek cities had a ''gymnasium'', a courtyard for jumping, running, and wrestling.

As the Roman Empire ascended, the Greek gymnastics gave way to gymnastics whose purpose was military training. The Romans, for example, introduced the wooden horse.

In 393 AD the Emperor Theodosius abolished the Olympic Games, which by then had become corrupt and gymnastics, along with other sports, declined. For centuries, gymnastics was all but forgotten.

In the fifteenth century, Girolamo Mercuriale from Forlì (Italy) wrote ''De Arte Gymnastica'', that brought together his study of the attitudes of the ancients toward diet, exercise and hygiene, and the use of natural methods for the cure of disease. ''De Arte Gymnastica'' also explained the principles of physical therapy and is considered the first book on sports medicine.

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century Germany, two pioneer physical educators – Johann Friedrich GutsMuths (1759–1839) and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778–1852) – created exercises for boys and young men on apparatus they had designed that ultimately led to what is considered modern gymnastics. In particular, Jahn crafted early models of the horizontal bar, the parallel bars (from a horizontal ladder with the rungs removed), and the vaulting horse.

The Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) was founded in Liege in 1881. By the end of the nineteenth century, men's gymnastics competition was popular enough to be included in the first "modern" Olympic Games in 1896. From then on until the early 1950s, both national and international competitions involved a changing variety of exercises gathered under the rubric, ''gymnastics'', that would seem strange to today's audiences and that included for example, ''synchronized team floor calisthenics'', ''rope climbing'', ''high jumping'', ''running'', ''horizontal ladder''. During the 1920s, women organized and participated in gymnastics events. The first women's Olympic competition was primitive, for it involved only synchronized calisthenics, was held at the 1928 Games, in Amsterdam.

By 1954, Olympic Games apparatus and events for both men and women had been standardized in modern format, and uniform grading structures (including a point system from 1 to 15) had been agreed upon. At this time, Soviet gymnasts astounded the world with highly disciplined and difficult performances, setting a precedent that continues. The new medium of television helped publicize and initiate a modern age of gymnastics. Both men's and women's gymnastics now attract considerable international interest, and excellent gymnasts can be found on every continent. Nadia Comăneci received the first perfect score, at the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Canada. She was coached in Romania by the Romanian coach, (Hungarian ethnicity), Béla Károlyi. Comaneci scored four of her perfect tens on the uneven bars, two on the balance beam and one in the floor exercise. Even with Nadia's perfect scores, the Romanians lost the gold medal to the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, Comaneci became an Olympic icon.

In 2006, a new points system for Artistic gymnastics was put into play. With an A Score (or D score) being the difficulty score, which as of 2009 is based on the top 8 high scoring elements in a routine (excluding Vault). The B Score (or E Score), is the score for execution, and is given for how well the skills are performed.

Forms

Artistic gymnastics

Artistic gymnastics is usually divided into Men's and Women's Gymnastics. Typically men compete on six events: Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, and High Bar, while women compete on four: Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise. In some countries, women at one time competed on the rings, high bar, and parallel bars (for example, in the 1950s in the USSR). Though routines performed on each event may be short, they are physically exhausting and push the gymnast's strength, flexibility, endurance and awareness to the limit.

Artistic gymnasts in the United States participate in competitions that use a standardized level system, ranging from Level 1 to Level 10. Levels 1 through 6 compete using compulsory routines. In Levels 7 though 10, athletes may use their own routines created from a set of skills each of which must be included in the routine. Elite competition, open to skilled younger athletes in lower levels, is typically reserved for athletes who have aged out of the junior program; for example, in the United States, Junior Olympic competition ends when the athlete reaches age 18. Elite gymnasts compete for team slots, which allows them access to international competition. It is accepted practice at the compulsory and optional level to use standardized routines in the training of young gymnasts.

In 2006, FIG introduced a new points system for Artistic gymnastics in which scores are no longer limited to 10 points. The system is used in the US for elite level competition.

Events for women

; Vault: In the vaulting events gymnasts sprint down a runway, jump onto a beatboard or springboard (run/ take-off segment), land momentarily, generally inverted on the hands on the vaulting horse or vaulting table (pre flight segment), then spring off of this platform to a two footed landing (post flight segment). Every gymnast starts at a different point on the vault runway depending on their height and strength. The post flight segment may include one or more multiple saltos or somersaults, and/or twisting movements. Round-off entry vaults are the most common vaults. In vaults with roundoff entries, gymnasts "round-off" so hands are on the runway while the feet land on the springboard (beatboard). From the roundoff position the gymnast travels backwards as in a backhandspring so that the hands land on the vaulting platform (horse). She then blocks off the vaulting platform into various twisting and somersaulting combinations. The post flight segment brings the gymnast to her feet.

: In 2001, the traditional vaulting horse was replaced with a new apparatus, sometimes known as a tongue or table. The new apparatus is more stable, wider, and longer than the older vaulting horse—approximately 1m in length and 1m in width—gives gymnasts a larger blocking surface, and is therefore safer than the old vaulting horse. With the addition of this new, safer vaulting table, gymnasts are attempting more difficult and dangerous vaults.

; Uneven Bars: On the uneven bars (also known as asymmetric bars, UK), the gymnast performs a routine on two horizontal bars set at different heights. These bars are made of fiberglass covered in wood laminate, to prevent them from breaking. In the past, bars were made of wood, but the bars were prone to breaking, providing an incentive to switch to newer technologies. The width of the bars may be adjusted. Gymnasts perform swinging, circling, transitional, and release moves, that may pass over, under, and between the two bars. Movements may pass through the handstand. Gymnasts often mount the Uneven Bars using a springboard.

; Balance Beam: The gymnast performs a choreographed routine up to 90 seconds in length consisting of leaps, acrobatic skills, somersaults, turns and dance elements on a padded, and sprung beam. The beam is from the ground, long, and wide. The event requires, in particular, balance, flexibility and strength.

; Floor:In the past, the Floor Exercise event was executed on the bare floor or mats such as wrestling mats. Today, the floor event occurs on a carpeted 12m × 12m square, usually consisting of hard foam over a layer of plywood, which is supported by springs or foam blocks generally called a "spring" floor. This provides a firm surface that provides extra bounce or spring when compressed, allowing gymnasts to achieve extra height and a softer landing than would be possible on a standard floor. Gymnasts perform a choreographed routine up to 90 seconds in the Floor Exercise event. They must choose an accompanying music piece. In some gymnastic associations such as United States Association of Gymnastic Clubs (USAIGC), gymnasts are allowed to have vocals in their music but USA Gymnastics competitions a large deduction is taken from the score for having vocals in the music. The routine should consist of tumbling lines, series of jumps, dance elements, acrobatic skills, and turns, or piviots, on one foot. A gymnast can perform up to four tumbling lines that include at least one flight element without hand support. Each level of gymnastics requires the athlete to perform a different number of tumbling passes, in level 7 you are required to do 2–3 and in levels 8–10 at least 3–4 tumbling passes are required.

Scoring: A gymnast's score comes from deductions taken from their start value. The start value of a routine is calculated based on the difficulty of the elements the gymnast attempts and whether or not the gymnast meets composition requirements. The composition requirements are different for each apparatus. This score is called the D score. Deductions in execution and artistry are taken from 10.0. This score is called the E score. The final score is calculated by taking deductions from the E score, and adding the result to the D score. And since 2007, the scoring system has changed by adding bonus plus the execution and then adding those two together to get the final score.

Events for men

; Floor: Male gymnasts also perform on a 12m. by 12m. spring floor. A series of tumbling passes are performed to demonstrate flexibility, strength, and balance. The gymnast must also show strength skills, including circles, scales, and press handstands. Men's floor routines usually have four passes that will total between 60–70 seconds and are performed without music, unlike the women's event. Rules require that male gymnasts touch each corner of the floor at least once during their routine.

; Pommel Horse: A typical pommel horse exercise involves both single leg and double leg work. Single leg skills are generally found in the form of scissors, an element often done on the pommels. Double leg work however, is the main staple of this event. The gymnast swings both legs in a circular motion (clockwise or counterclockwise depending on preference) and performs such skills on all parts of the apparatus. To make the exercise more challenging, gymnasts will often include variations on a typical circling skill by turning (moores and spindles) or by straddling their legs (Flares). Routines end when the gymnast performs a dismount, either by swinging his body over the horse, or landing after a handstand.

; Still Rings: The rings are suspended on wire cable from a point 5.75 metres from the floor, and adjusted in height so the gymnast has room to hang freely and swing. He must perform a routine demonstrating balance, strength, power, and dynamic motion while preventing the rings themselves from swinging. At least one static strength move is required, but some gymnasts may include two or three. A routine should have a dismount equal in difficulty to the difficulty of the routine as a whole.

; Vault: Gymnasts sprint down a runway, which is a maximum of 25 metres in length, before hurdling onto a spring board. The body position is maintained while "punching" (blocking using only a shoulder movement) the vaulting platform. The gymnast then rotates to a standing position. In advanced gymnastics, multiple twists and somersaults may be added before landing. Successful vaults depend on the speed of the run, the length of the hurdle, the power the gymnast generates from the legs and shoulder girdle, the kinesthetic awareness in the air, and the speed of rotation in the case of more difficult and complex vaults.

; Parallel Bars: Men perform on two bars slightly further than a shoulder's width apart and usually 1.75m high while executing a series of swings, balances, and releases that require great strength and coordination.

; High Bar: A 2.4 cm thick steel bar raised 2.5m above the landing area is all the gymnast has to hold onto as he performs ''giants'' (revolutions around the bar), release skills, twists, and changes of direction. By using all of the momentum from giants and then releasing at the proper point, enough height can be achieved for spectacular dismounts, such as a triple-back salto. Leather grips are usually used to help maintain a grip on the bar.

As with the women, male gymnasts are also judged on all of their events, for their execution, degree of difficulty, and overall presentation skills.

Rhythmic gymnastics

Only women compete in rhythmic gymnastics although there is a new version of this discipline for men being pioneered in Japan, see Men's rhythmic gymnastics. The sport involves the performance of five separate routines with the use of five apparatus—ball, ribbon, hoop, clubs, rope—on a floor area, with a much greater emphasis on the aesthetic rather than the acrobatic. There are also group routines consisting of 5 gymnasts and 5 apparatuses of their choice. Rhythmic routines are scored out of a possible 20 points; the score for artistry (choreography and music) is averaged with the score for difficulty of the moves and then added to the score for execution.

Trampolining and Tumbling

Trampolining and tumbling consists of four events, individual, synchronized, double mini and tumbling (also known as power tumbling). Since 2000, individual trampoline has been included in the Olympic Games. Individual routines in trampolining involve a build-up phase during which the gymnast jumps repeatedly to achieve height, followed by a sequence of ten leaps without pauses during which the gymnast performs a sequence of aerial skills. Routines are marked out of a maximum score of 10 points. Additional points (with no maximum at the highest levels of competition) can be earned depending on the difficulty of the moves and the length of time taken to complete the ten skills which is an indicaztion of the average height of the jumps. In high level competitions, there are two preliminary routines, one which has only two moves scored for difficulty and one where the athlete is free to perform any routine. This is followed by a final routine which is optional. Some competitions restart the score from zero for the finals, other add the final score to the preliminary results. Synchronized trampoline is similar except that both competitors must perform the routine together and marks are awarded for synchronicity as well as the form and difficulty of the moves. Double mini trampoline involves a smaller trampoline with a run-up, two moves are performed for preliminaries and two more for finals. Moves cannot be repeated and the scores are marked in a similar manner to individual trampoline. In tumbling, athletes perform an explosive series of flips and twists down a sprung tumbling track. Scoring is similar to trampolining.

Acrobatic Gymnastics

Acrobatic gymnastics (formerly Sports Acrobatics), often referred to as acro if involed with the sport, acrobatic sports or simply sports acro, is a group gymnastic discipline for both men and women. Acrobats in groups of two, three and four perform routines with the heads, hands and feet of their partners. They may, subject to regulations (e.g. no lyrics), pick their own music.

Throughout the world, there at three FIG levels: Age group (Age 11-16), Junior(12-19) and Senior (15+), which are used in the World Championships and many other events around the world, including European Championships and World Games. All levels require a balance and dynamic routine, Junior and Seniors are also required to perform a final (combined) routine.

In the UK there are two preparatory levels (Prep A and Prep B) developing core skills, then gymnasts can move onto the NDP's (National Development Plan) consisting of levels 1 through to 4 (3 and 4 requiring two routines).

In the US, beginning recreational acro gymnastics includes levels of 1, 2, and 3 (which require one routine containing both dynamic and balance skills). Compulsory levels 4, 5, 6, and 7 (which also only require one routine). At levels of 8, 9, two routines are required – one for balance and one for dynamic. For optional levels 10, and elite, three routines are required – one for balance, one for dynamic, and one combined routine.

Currently Acrobatic gymnastics is marked out of 30.00 (can be higher at Senior FIG level based on difficulty):

10.00 for routine difficulty, (valued from the tables of difficulties)

10.00 For technical performance, (how well the skills are executed)

10.00 For Artistry, (the overall performance of the routine, namely choreography)

TeamGym

Team Gym or Gymnastics for All has it origins in earliest times.These days, although teams can compete the sport itself was developed to enhance fitness and health in the participants and is accessible to anyone of any age. In 1984 Gymnastics for All was officially recognized first as a Sport Program by the FIG (International Gymnastic Federation), and subsequently by national gymnastic federations world wide with participants that now number 30 million.

; Floor Programme: All members of the Team take part in the floor program, composed of a mixture of dance, flexibility and skill. The routine has to be skillfully choreographed and the judges look out for changes in shape. There needs to be at least two spins, two balances and two section elements. These section elememts are bodywaves for women's teams, power elements for men's teams and lifts for mixed teams. Floor routines are performed to music.

; Trampette: Here a trampette is used. There are two components of this; Vault and the Trampette on its own. There has to be three runs in total. At least one of these runs has to be a vault run. Another run has to include all the gymnasts doing the same move. This is generally the first run. This is also performed to music.

; Tumbling: Again, here there are three runs (rounds) involved. One of which has to include all six gymnasts doing a forwards series. Another run also has to include the gymnasts completing the same move. Each series must have at least three different acrobatic elements.

Display gymnastics

General gymnastics enables people of all ages and abilities to participate in performance groups of 6 to more than 150 athletes. They perform synchronized, choreographed routines. Troupes may be all one gender or mixed. There are no age divisions in general gymnastics. The largest general gymnastics exhibition is the quadrennial World Gymnaestrada which was first held in 1939.

Aerobic gymnastics

Aerobic gymnastics (formally Sport Aerobics) involves the performance of routines by individuals, pairs, trios or groups up to 6 people, emphasizing strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness rather than acrobatic or balance skills. Routines are performed for all individuals on a 7x7m floor and also for 12–14 and 15–17 trios and mixed pairs. From 2009, all senior trios and mixed pairs were required to be on the larger floor (10x10m), all groups also perform on this floor. Routines generally last 60–90 seconds depending on age of participant and routine category.

Former apparatus & events

Rope (Rhythmic Gymnastics)

Starting in 2011, the rhythmic apparatus rope will be removed from all FIG events and clubs will be returned to the competition. FIG has a policy of only using four of the five pieces of apparatus and changes them for different Olympic cycles. This will affect World Cups, World Championships, and Olympics.

Rope Climb

Generally, competitors climbed either a 6m (6.1m = 20 ft in USA) or an 8m (7.6m = 25 ft in USA), 38mm (1.5") diameter natural fiber rope for speed, starting from a seated position on the floor and using only the hands and arms. Kicking the legs in a kind of "stride" was normally permitted. Many gymnasts can do this in the straddle or pike position, which eliminates the help generated from the legs.

Flying Rings

''Flying Rings'' was an event similar to ''Still Rings'', but with the performer executing a series of stunts while swinging. It was a gymnastic event sanctioned by both the NCAA and the AAU until the early 1960s.

Injuries

A range of injuries can occur. Shoulder injuries are much more common in gymnastics, than in other sports .

Popular culture

Film

''American Anthem''

''Flying''

''Gymkata''

''Little Girls in Pretty Boxes''

''Make It or Break It''

''Nadia''

''Peaceful Warrior''

''Perfect Body''

''A State of Mind''

''Stick It''

''The Gymnast''

See also

Acrobatics

Acro dance

Gymnasium (ancient Greece)

List of gymnasts

List of gymnastics terms

International Gymnastics Hall of Fame

World Gymnastics Championships

NCAA Men's Gymnastics championship (US)

NCAA Women's Gymnastics championship (US)

Turners

Majorettes

Cheerleading

References

External links

Category:Olympic sports Category:Individual sports Category:Sports rules and regulations Category:Greek loanwords

af:Gimnastiek ar:جمباز az:Gimnastika zh-min-nan:Thé-chhau bs:Gimnastika bg:Гимнастика ca:Gimnàstica cs:Gymnastika da:Gymnastik de:Gymnastik et:Võimlemine es:Gimnasia eo:Gimnastiko eu:Gimnastika fa:ژیمناستیک fr:Gymnastique gl:Ximnasia ko:체조 hr:Gimnastika io:Gimnastiko id:Senam is:Fimleikar it:Ginnastica he:התעמלות jv:Senam ka:ტანვარჯიში kk:Гимнастика ht:Jimnastik lbe:Гимнастика lv:Vingrošana lt:Gimnastika hu:Torna (sport) mk:Гимнастика mr:जिम्नॅस्टिक्स ms:Gimnastik nl:Gymnastiek (sport) ja:体操 no:Gymnastikk nov:Gimnastike mhr:Гимнастике pnb:جمناسٹک pl:Gimnastyka pt:Ginástica ro:Gimnastică ru:Гимнастика sa:दाक्षम् sq:Gjimnastika scn:Ginnàstica simple:Gymnastics sk:Gymnastika sl:Gimnastika sr:Гимнастика sh:Gimnastika fi:Voimistelu sv:Gymnastik ta:சீருடற்பயிற்சிகள் th:ยิมนาสติก tr:Jimnastik uk:Гімнастика ur:جمناسٹک vi:Thể dục dụng cụ zh:体操

Rémi Gaillard (born 7 February 1975 in Montpellier, Hérault, France) is a French humorist who uploads videos on YouTube. After losing his job at a shoe store, Rémi then began to use his free time to have fun and run some pranks on the public. He is the 18# most subscribed comedian on YouTube.

Gaillard gained attention in the French media after performing a well-documented series of pranks, including an appearance disguised as a Lorient football player in the ''2002 Coupe de France'' final match, during which he took part in the winners' celebrations and was greeted by the then president of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac. He is also an amateur football player and has posted videos of his skills.

Gaillard has appeared in several sport events, TV game shows and political rallies.

Concept

Gaillard became famous for his videos where he displays an "outrageous" style of humour, questioning public norms:

stealing someone's lottery ticket and appearing to have won;

dressed as a sheep, laying funeral flowers in front of roasting sheep;

transforming a roundabout into a roofless home;

many challenges to rigid conventions, by perturbing

* the old-aged public of ''Countdown'',

* the well-ordered behaviour of tennis exhibition matches,

* the police.

The majority of Gaillard's stunts have resulted in prison sentences for the comedian.

His videos were mostly posted on Stage 6. After this did not pick up he posted them on his YouTube channel. In most, Gaillard plays pranks on other people and TV shows.

Gaillard's motto is ''C'est en faisant n'importe quoi qu'on devient n'importe qui'' ("It's by doing whatever, that one becomes whoever.").

Most of Gaillard's videos are shot by his friend Grégory Laffargue.

Sketches

The majority of Gaillard's sketches are of the hidden camera type, in which the antagonist performs an unexpected or surprising action to elicit humorous responses from the bewildered witnesses. Gaillard often disguises himself in outlandish costumes for the pranks. During some pranks, Gaillard is accompanied by a crowd of friends, giving the action a flashmob-like nature. Some other videos may feature acrobatics like aiming footballs at distant goal-like objects, or more still aim to antagonize police forces he interacts with during his sketches.

Gaillard shot his first sketch in 1999 with a friend in Montpellier. In 2001, he created an internet website, nimportequi.com.

He gained notoriety in 2002 at the finals of the Coupe de France. Disguised as an FC Lorient player, he celebrated the team's victory with the players, shook the hand of the then French President Jacques Chirac and signed autographs, without anyone realizing that he was not a player on the team.

Some of his most famous sketches are parodies of the Rocky Balboa movies, Pac Man, Mario Kart, and his football videos.

He often dresses up in large animal costumes. Pig, dog, cat, turtle, snail, bee, shark, kangaroo, spider, beaver, fly, gorilla, chicken, penguin, giraffe, rabbit, butterfly and sheep have all been used in pranks.

In 2007, he gained the attention of journalists from Le Monde and was invited on a few talk shows..

On his official site, Gaillard claims over 1.1 billion views on his videos on the web.

Gaillard also appeared in Orangina, Pepsi, Durex and LG commercials.

References

External links

Gaillard's Dailymotion channel

Category:1975 births Category:People from Montpellier Category:Living people Category:French humorists Category:Pranksters

ar:ريمي غايار br:Rémi Gaillard ca:Rémi Gaillard cs:Rémi Gaillard de:Rémi Gaillard es:Rémi Gaillard eu:Rémi Gaillard fr:Rémi Gaillard it:Rémi Gaillard he:רמי גאייאר hu:Rémi Gaillard nl:Rémi Gaillard ja:レミ・ガイヤール no:Rémi Gaillard pl:Rémi Gaillard pt:Rémi Gaillard ru:Гайяр, Реми sr:Реми Гајар fi:Rémi Gaillard sv:Rémi Gaillard tr:Rémi Gaillard

Fullname	Carly Rae Patterson
Country
Birth date	February 04, 1988
Birth place	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Hometown	Allen, Texas
Height
Discipline	WAG
Level	Senior Elite
Club	World Olympic Gymnastics Academy
Headcoach	Evgeny Marchenko
Assistcoach	Natasha Boyarskaya
Choreographer	Tatiana Shegolkova
Eponymousskills	Patterson (balance beam)
Retired	2006
Show-medals	yes
Medaltemplates	}}

}}

name	Carly Patterson
background	solo_singer
birth name	Carly Rae Patterson
birth date	February 04, 1988
origin	Allen, Texas, USA
instrument	Vocals
genre	RockPop
occupation	Musician, Athlete
years active	2007—Present
label	MusicMind Records }}

Carly Rae Patterson (born February 4, 1988 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is an American singer and former gymnast. She is the 2004 Olympic All-Around Champion and a member of the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. She currently lives in Allen, Texas.

Biography

Pre-Olympic career

Patterson was at her cousin's birthday party at Baton Rouge's Elite Gymnastics club in 1994 when coach Johnny Moyal, a three-time Israeli Olympian, noticed her talent and suggested that she begin to take lessons. Originally, her mother was hesitant about it, but Carly started tumbling and jumping around her house. There was not much room, and as her mom did not want her to get hurt, she enrolled her in gymnastics. In 2000, Patterson participated in the Top Gym Tournament in Belgium and won the silver medal in the all-around and the bronze medal for balance beam, her favorite event.

At the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, she was ranked second in the all-around before the final rotation. She missed three landings on the floor exercise, however, and finished seventh overall. "I don't know what happened," she said. "I can't give up, I will keep going. I was happy with my first three rotations, especially beam."

Patterson was named the U.S. Junior National All-Around champion in 2002. She had previously received fourth place in 2000 and third place in 2001. She then began her senior career by winning the 2003 American Cup, where she was the youngest competitor at the event, having just turned 15. This set of wins solidified her as a leading American gymnast and viable candidate for the 2004 Olympic all-around title.

She was forced to sit out the 2003 U.S. National Championships, which would have been her first Nationals event as a senior, because of a broken elbow. Although she could not compete she was able to successfully petition to the 2003 World Gymnastics Championships. At the 2003 World Gymnastics Championships in Anaheim, California, she earned the all-around silver medal —the first time an American woman had won an all-around medal at that competition since 1994. She also helped her team to earn the team gold medal, a first for the American women.

Patterson again won the all-around at the prestigious American Cup in 2004. In the first major meet of the Olympic year, she swept the competition, winning all four events and the all-around, collecting a total of $14,000 for her wins ($10,000 for the all around, $1,000 per event). Just days before the competition her coach, Evgeny Marchenko, had lost his mother. He barely arrived in time for the competition and during the meet Patterson dedicated her performance to his mother.

In 2004, she became a co-champion with Courtney Kupets in the all-around event at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. She also won the floor exercise and placed second on balance beam.

At the 2004 Olympic trials, Patterson had two uncharacteristic falls on balance beam over the course of two days, dropping her to third place. Although she did not earn an automatic Olympic berth at this competition, her successful performances at the training camp following trials were more than enough to place her on the team.

2004 Summer Olympics

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Patterson competed as an all-around athlete in the preliminary competition, finishing first overall and qualifying for the all-around and balance beam finals. The United States faced difficulties in the team final, and Carly had her share of mishaps. She under-rotated her vault, stubbed the low bar with her foot, and her beam routine was marred by wobbles and a lunge forward on the dismount; only on floor did she perform as well as she was capable of. She later admitted to being distracted after a rushed start on vault, with her coach saying, "The beginning of the competition was stressful. It set the tone." The U.S. Women, the reigning world champions, settled for silver.

The Individual All-Around proved to be the much-anticipated battle between Patterson and legendary three-time World all-around champion Svetlana Khorkina. After scoring lower than usual on the vault (9.375), Patterson was stronger on her last three events, scoring 9.575 on uneven bars, 9.725 on the balance beam, and 9.712 on the floor exercise. She won the gold medal, only the second American woman to do so, and the first American woman to ever win the Olympic all-around title in a non-boycotted Olympic Games. Mary Lou Retton was the first American woman ever to win the title, at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but because those Games were boycotted by the Soviet Union, meaning Retton did not face stiff competition from the Soviet gymnasts (who consistently dominated the sport during that period, accounting in 1984 for six of the seven previous Olympic all-around champions and nine of the ten previous World all-around champions), Patterson's victory had a unique significance.

On August 23, 2004 she competed in the finals for the beam event where she received a score of 9.775 and won the silver medal behind Cătălina Ponor of Romania.

Leading up to the 2004 Olympic Games, she was prepared by her two former Soviet coaches: the famous Russian acrobat Evgeny Marchenko, who immigrated to the United States from Latvia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and Natalya Boyarskaya.

After Athens

Soon after the Olympic games ended, it was discovered that Patterson had several bulging disks in her lower back that had gone unnoticed. She announced her intention to take time off from the sport to rehabilitate her back, but she officially retired from the sport in 2006 without ever participating in another major competition. She recalled the decision in a 2009 interview, saying, "I started having some back issues, and honestly, my doctor was like, ‘Carly, you really need to stop if you want to be able to walk when you get older’....So I retired and moved on to singing.” Her coach said in a TV interview, "It's hard to top an all-around gold."

She stayed occupied with event appearances, gymnastics-related and otherwise. She also landed a number of high profile corporate sponsorships; she appeared in a Mobile ESPN commercial aired during Super Bowl XL. She also finished her authorized biography, which was released in April 2006.

''Celebrity Duets'' TV show

On August 29, 2006, she started her appearance on the show ''Celebrity Duets''. The program was a reality show executive produced by Simon Cowell of ''American Idol'' fame. Celebrities not known for singing were teamed up with professional singers; one of the eight celebrities was voted off each week. The show aired every Thursday on FOX with a results show each Friday, from September 7, 2006 to October 13, 2006.

On September 8, 2006, during the results show, she joined Cheech Marin and Lea Thompson in the bottom three. The audience, however, spared Patterson from elimination to continue competing the next week on Thursday, September 14.

On September 15, 2006, during the results show, Carly Patterson was eliminated from the competition (singing a duet with Jesse McCartney). Patterson said that she would continue to sing. She also encouraged the audience to continue voting for the remaining celebrities because each vote raised money for charity.

Music career

Patterson first expressed interest in becoming a professional singer in a March 2005 interview. On August 21, 2005, she gave an interview on FOX Sports Net's Sports Sunday in which she gave more details on her future career. She sang a small segment of "Damaged" and said that she went to New York City to record the demo. On December 18, 2005, she announced that she signed a demo contract for four songs with Papa Joe's Records, owned by Joe Simpson, father of Jessica and Ashlee Simpson. She worked with singer and writer Chris Megert. They wrote and produced songs titled "Time to Wake Up" and "Lost in Me".

On February 4, 2008, Carly signed a recording contract with MusicMind Records, a Chicago based Indie label. Her single "Temporary Life (Ordinary Girl)" was released on iTunes on March 25, 2008. Her debut album ''Back to the Beginning'' was scheduled for release August 5, 2008, coincidentally, the same week as the start of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. However, the CD was not released until more than a year later, on August 25, 2009, and in the interim, Patterson released another single, "Time to Wake Up," on iTunes on February 19, 2009. She currently as of July 2011 has a full-length album available on iTunes and Amazon.com.

On September 10, 2008, a remixed version of Carly's "Temporary Life (Ordinary Girl)" was played on the Bobby Bones Show. The mixed version featured the new artist Captain Caucasian, which is the pseudonym for Bobby Bones.

Carly's song "Here I Am" was featured on the second season of the ABC Family series Make It or Break It, which is a television drama series that focuses on the lives of teen gymnasts who strive to make it to the Olympic Games.

Honors and awards

Patterson was chosen for the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2009.

Floor Music

2004 Mr. Pinstripe Suit by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Notes

External links

Official webpage

See also

Gymnastics at the 2004 Summer Olympics

United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:American female artistic gymnasts Category:Gymnasts at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:People from Baton Rouge, Louisiana Category:People from Collin County, Texas Category:American female singers Category:American pop singers Category:People from the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex Category:Olympic gymnasts of the United States Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States Category:Medalists at World Gymnastics Championships Category:Olympic medalists in gymnastics

cs:Carly Patterson de:Carly Patterson es:Carly Patterson fr:Carly Patterson it:Carly Patterson ja:カーリー・パターソン pt:Carly Patterson ro:Carly Patterson ru:Паттерсон, Карли simple:Carly Patterson fi:Carly Patterson tl:Carly Patterson zh:卡莱·帕特森

Damien Walters (born April 6, 1982) is a former British gymnast of Derbyshire specialising in tumbling. He participated in four Trampoline World Championships. In 2003, he was one of four members of the British team winning the World Title in the team competition. In the years 2001 and 2007 he ranked 4th with the team. Besides, he finished 5th in singles competition in 2003 and 2005. In addition he won the European Title with the British team in 2006, just after he placed 2nd in team and 8th in singles competition two years earlier. Since then he has not participated in further tournaments and has focused on his other projects, mainly his career as a stuntman, but he also appeared in a few commercials and performed in acrobatic shows.

Walters has had the role of stuntman in the films ''Hellboy II'', ''Kick-Ass'', ''Ninja Assassin'' and ''Scott Pilgrim vs. the World''. In 2010, he won the Taurus World Stunt Awards for "Best Fight" in the film Ninja Assassin'. He will also appear in the upcoming films ''Blitz'', ''The Eagle'', ''Colombiana'' and Steven Spielberg's ''I Am Number Four''.

Damien Walters also has a passion for Parkour and Freerunning where he incorporates his gymnastic skills as well as his stuntman abilities. On YouTube he is one of the most watched Freerunners with his videos having a total of over 30 million views.

Currently he is running his own gym in Derbyshire and shooting films.

References

Further reading

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Category:British gymnasts Category:Parkour Category:Traceurs Category:British stunt performers Category:Living people Category:1982 births Category:People from Derby Category:People from Derbyshire

fr:Damien Walters ja:ダミアン・ウォルターズ ru:Уолтерс, Дэмиен