Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research (Eur-asia Database, International Sciences Abstracts, Intl Agric Database), cilt.19, sa.12, ss.1554-1565, 2014 (Hakemli Dergi)
The purpose of this study was to analyse the body movement difficulties in individual elite rhythmic
gymnasts in Olympic Games. The data has been collected from the videos that were recorded during the
individual senior rhythmic gymnastics final competitions at London 2012 Olympic Games. In final competitions,
10 gymnasts performed hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon routines. In each apparatus 10 and for a total of 40
choreographies were analysed. Descriptive statistics were calculated and the numbers of body difficulties
groups in each routine were determined as a percentage. It was observed that the pivots were the technical
category with more variety (18 variations, 31.6%) and balances were used very frequently (178 times) but the
most limited variety (14 variations, 13.2%) while flexibility/wave difficulties (108 times) were preferred a lot less.
However, Rotation in Penche (42.6%) was the most used flexibility/wave difficulty amongst basic body
movement difficulties for each apparatus. Jete with a turn, Balance in back scale leg high up, Attitude pivot
and Rotation in Penche difficulties were the most used body movement difficulties for all apparatus. As a
result, elite rhythmic gymnasts preferred certain difficulties and used only these stereotyped movements in
different compositions in 2012 Olympic Games. It was concluded that Olympic level individual elite gymnasts
tend to use the same quality jump/leap, balance, pivot and flexibility/wave body movement difficulties for all
of their routines and it shows clearly an indication for the lack of selection of the body difficulties. This study
could be the base for future studies that might focus on new Code of Points rules and their effects on the
selection and variety of body movement difficulties in compositions.