Delaš Kalinski S.: ELITE FEMALE GYMNASTS AT TWO OLYMPIC GAMES – QUALITY….. Vol. 9 Issue 2: 153 - 164 ELITE FEMALE GYMNASTS AT TWO OLYMPIC GAMES – QUALITY OR LUCK? Sunčica Delaš Kalinski Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, Croatia Original article Abstract Relatively small number of gymnasts participate at the Olympic Games and even smaller number participates at Olympic Games consecutively, due to numerous different reasons. Therefore, this paper aims are: 1) to determine the number of female gymnasts who participated in the C-I competition at Olympic Games held in 2012 and at Olympic Games held in 2016; 2) to determine characteristics and differences in results of consecutive participants at these two Olympic Games; 3) to determine differences between consecutive participants and other competitors at the afore defined competitions. It was found that 25 female gymnasts participated at two consecutive Olympic Games. From one to another Olympic Games, consecutive participants have numerically increase all scores; significantly increased Execution and Final Scores on the uneven bars; significantly decrease Execution and Final Score on the balance beam. Compared to other gymnasts from the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, consecutive participants had numerically higher values in all variables, but only some of them have been determined as significantly different. Consecutive participants confirmed the possibility of continuous quality of skills development in mid 20s. Keywords: consecutive participants, C-I competition, 2012-2016 Olympic Games, ANOVA. INTRODUCTION Being an Olympic athlete is a dream performances; Tucker (2011) believes that of many people and the aim of most elite superior performances can be achieved athletes. Different studies quote somewhat within a significantly shorter period of different time which is needed in order to time. achieve Olympic quality: Ericsson, It is often heard that in order to reach Charness, Feltovich and Hoffman (2006) high levels of ability, a person needs to and Gladwell (2009) state that it takes have an innate potential called talent. around 10 000 working hours to achieve Talent term for an aptitude, a special gift the Olympic quality; Arkaev and Suchilin of above-average ability in a certain area, (2009) state that it takes at least 8-10 years here in the area of sport motor actions, and to reach top artistic gymnastics quality in for the person possessing these abilities. In girls and 10-12 years in boys; Gibbons et regard to sport, three forms of talent can be al. (2002) reported that it takes 11 to 13 differentiated: general motor talent (high years of practice in order to reach elite motor learning ability, good motor ability, Science of Gymnastics Journal 153 Science of Gymnastics Journal Delaš Kalinski S.: ELITE FEMALE GYMNASTS AT TWO OLYMPIC GAMES – QUALITY….. Vol. 9 Issue 2: 153 - 164 broad repertoire of movements), sport is presented in the review article by Malina talent (extraordinary ability and readiness et al. (2013). They reported that training to deliver sport performances), and sport- loads and sequencing of training activities specific talent (existence of specific in artistic gymnastics vary among physical and psychological prerequisites individuals with regard to their age, necessary for delivering excellent competitive level, season and coach. The performances in a certain sport discipline; previous study show that: 1) the average Haag and Haag, 2003). Howe, Davidson time of training (reported by gymnasts at and Sloboda (1998) analysed positive and major championships) is approximately 30 negative evidence and arguments about hours per week. They state that the USA talent. They concluded that early Gymnastics proposed the „optimal plan“ experiences, preferences, opportunities, for the training of elite senior US female habits, training and practice are the real gymnasts. The plan included two daily determinants of excellence. When those sessions (morning 2-3 hours, afternoon 3-4 are controlled, there is a little evidence of hours) 6 days a week; 2) time of training individual differences in the learning speed overlaps in females and males and and quality. increases with age and level of In 1985, Bloom provided his opinion competition; 3) the objective criteria for on the importance of talent in relation to determining the intensity of training was other factors which are key in achieving not found; 3) the specific training activities the Olympic quality: „…no matter what (warm-up, stretching, strength training, are the initial characteristics of the instruction and repetition of specific skills individuals, unless there is a long and and routine, rest between repetitions, intensive process of encouragement, dance, and choreography, etc.) are not nurturance, education, training, the usually reported; 4) a little attention is paid individuals will not attain extreme levels of to the sex of gymnasts. The authors capability in the particular fields.” concluded that gymnastics training is more Regardless of which theory we accept, complex and includes more factors than all of them have one fact in common and just hours of training per week or number that is that there are no “shortcuts” in of repetitions. Furthermore, although this achieving world-class performances. What report was made in 2013, they concluded is more, it is a long-term and complex that reported information may not be process. representative for the elite gymnasts today In the case of artistic gymnastics, this since gymnasts face increasing demands at long-term process should be planned in every new Olympic Cycle. accordance with the international In order to achieve top results, today’s gymnastics evolution tendencies and the gymnasts have to possess not only a high anticipation of the sport's technical level of special physical qualities, perfect development pursuant to the changes technique and will power, but also high which occur in the Code of Points (CoP) work capacity and enthusiasm (Arkaev & every four years (Arkaev, 1997; Rozin, Suchilin, 2009). From their initial training 1997; according to Donti, Donti, & and during the process of achieving the Theodorakou, 2014). Since the 70s, it has Olympic level, CoP changes 2 to 3 times been pointed out that there are no unique causing significant redirecting and change methods of teaching and training in of content and the structure of most gymnastics (Živčić, 2000). Nevertheless, segments in the gymnasts' training process all applied methodical procedures aim to 2-3 times. All those changes within achieve the quality of the performance. training do not only refer to the decision on The complexity of the process of what the gymnasts should learn, but also achieving an Olympic level in gymnastics on how they should learn it in order to be Science of Gymnastics Journal 154 Science of Gymnastics Journal Delaš Kalinski S.: ELITE FEMALE GYMNASTS AT TWO OLYMPIC GAMES – QUALITY….. Vol. 9 Issue 2: 153 - 164 successful after 6 – 8 years of training developed as a sport; b) 1 (the best) when it is time to win or lose (Donti, gymnast from the country which is Donti, & Theodorakou, 2014). In order to organizing the Olympic Games and who optimally use their biological chances and does not ensure participation through the successfully compete in their first (and, qualification system probably, the last) Olympic Games (OG), (http://corporate.olympics.com.au/files/dm girls at the age of 14 must have mastered file/FIG_Gymnastics_April2011.pdf.) the arsenal of world level exercises in After having qualified for the OG and gymnastics, so that, over the next two taking into account structural complexity years, they can basically “catch up” at the of this sport and the aspiration to achieve competitions and training sessions, and gymnasts’ maximum in a relatively short meet the puberty period fully equipped career, the issue of OG competing tactics (Arkaev & Suchilin, 2009). becomes extremely important (Arkaev & Due to all those changes, gymnasts’ Suchilin, 2009). Regardless the fact that training can often be risky and too almost solely All-Around female gymnasts demanding. The capabilities of gymnasts’ qualify for the OG, they are not obligated anthropological aspects are pushed in order to compete on all apparatuses at OG. This to reach the maximum. Such training very rule is mostly used by: 1) competitors who often leads to injuries or „burning out". accomplish their aim just by participating Consequently, gymnasts, often leave the at OG; 2) competitors who believe that sport before they are old enough to their All-Around result, as opposed to their compete internationally (at the age of 16). result on a single apparatus, is not good From the authors' experience, if they enough for the final competition. "survive" the whole process of training, Based on the aforementioned, the most female gymnasts, in particular All- authors posed the problem of this paper: to Around Competitors, end their careers analyse characteristics of female gymnasts before their twenties and after having who manage to be consecutive participants competed at one OG. at two OG. Accordingly, this paper aims According to the current regulations, to: 1) determine the number (percentage) female gymnasts have the right to of female competitors who competed at participate in the Olympic Games when two successive OGs; 2) determine they are 16 years old (as a part of a team; exercising quality of female gymnasts who Federation Internationale de Gymnastique, participated at two consecutive OGs; 3) 2016). determine differences between consecutive In Women’s Artistic Gymnastics participants and other competitors from (WAG), a maximum of 98 gymnasts have OG2012 and OG2016. the right to participate at OG: 1) 96 gymnasts who achieve their participation METHODS right as a) a part of one of 12 qualified teams; b) based on an individual All- The sample included all the elite Around result from the World senior female gymnasts who participated Championship (WC) that takes place one in the C-I competitions at OG held in 2012 year before the OG (first 24 ranked); c) as (OG2012; N1=97) and 2016 (OG2016; medal winners (from the WC that takes N2=98).