Molinari, CI.; Costa, VR.; Monteiro, KOFF.; Nunomura, M.: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE … Vol. 10 Issue 3: 453 - 466 CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF WOMEN'S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS IN BRAZIL IN THE 2004- 2016 OLYMPIC CYCLES Caroline Inácio Molinari, Vitor Ricci Costa, Kamau Osei Fregonesi Ferreira Monteiro, Myrian Nunomura University of São Paulo, School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil Original article Abstract Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) in Brazil has been represented in the Olympic Games since 1980; however, a full team was classified only in 2004. Analyzing the Brazilian team’s participation over the last four cycles (2004-2016), we have identified several factors that implied in the WAG results. In this study, we discussed these factors and reflected on their contributions to the development of the gymnastics. The milestone of the 2001-2004 Olympic cycle is marked by the first participation of a full team, when foreign coaches came to lead WAG, the training system was reorganized, and the selected athletes began training in a centralized training system in Curitiba’s Training Center. The 2005-2008 Olympic cycle was more successful, as a consequence of the long-term planning. In the 2009-2012 Olympic cycle, the Brazilian WAG went through a period of turbulence, the training was no longer centralized, and the head coach of the Brazilian team returned to his home country. In the 2013-2016 Olympic cycle, with the headquarters of the 2016 Olympic Games in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Olympic Committee devised strategies to boost the country’s success, which again drove improvement in the team results. We concluded that the last Olympic cycles represented a major advance in Brazilian WAG. Restructuring since 2000 has been paramount condition for the gymnastics discipline to reach the current level. The improvement in training and competition conditions, the structuring of a Training Center of excellence, and the multidisciplinary team support was essential for the preparation of Brazilian team in the Olympic Games. Key words: Olympic Games; Long-term planning; International Acknowledgement. INTRODUCTION Artistic Gymnastics is a traditional The International Gymnastics sport included in the Olympic Program Federation was founded in 1881 and has since the first edition of the modern been organizing and regulating gymnastic Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens (Publio, sports since then (Publio, 1998; Kerr, 2003). 1998; Kerr, 2003). On this occasion, only The code of points, elaborated by the men participated, and women began to International Gymnastics Federation compete later, in the Amsterdam Olympic Technical Committee, regulates Games in 1928 (Publio, 1998; Kerr, 2003). competitions in the high level of sport (International Gymnastics Federation [FIG]) Science of Gymnastics Journal 453 Science of Gymnastics Journal Molinari, CI.; Costa, VR.; Monteiro, KOFF.; Nunomura, M.: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE … Vol. 10 Issue 3: 453 - 466 (2017). This instrument is updated every Gymnastics Federation, awarded to Olympic cycle, and changes are constantly gymnasts with a score of 9 points or higher being made in order to keep Artistic (Publio, 1998; Schiavon, 2009). Gymnastics attractive to the public and Thus, gradually, the Brazilian WAG media and to stimulate its evolution (FIG, has increased its participation in the largest 2017). international championships and, since the In official competitions, the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980, it has gymnasts are currently evaluated by a panel been represented by at least one gymnast. composed of nine judges (FIG, 2017). The In 1980, Claudia Magalhães was the criteria evaluated are: the difficulty of first Brazilian gymnast to compete in the acrobatic and gymnastics elements, Olympic Games. In 1984, Tatiana technical faults in the execution of the Figueiredo participated in the Los Angeles elements, the aesthetics of the movements Olympic Games. Luiza Parente represented through observation of the posture and the country in two consecutive Olympic alignment of the body, and amplitude and Games in 1988 and 1992, and we highlight dynamics of the movements. Furthermore, her brilliant participation in the 1991 Pan- on the balance beam and floor exercises the American Games, in which she won two judges analyze the artistic component gold medals. In 1996, Soraya Carvalho through the choreography, expression, and qualified for and went to the Olympic musicality (FIG, 2017). Thus, the starting Games in Atlanta, but due to a stress value of the gymnasts is determined by the fracture of the tibia, discovered four days difficulty value of the routines added to the before the opening of the Games, she was value of execution, which starts from 10 unable to compete. In 2000, in the Olympic points. We emphasize that there may also be Games, in Sydney, Camila Comin and deductions for general faults, which are not Daniele Hypólito represented the country related to performance (FIG, 2017). (Schiavon, 2009). Artistic Gymnastics arrived in Brazil in It was a process of constructing the 1942, brought by German immigrants living sport until the athletes became more in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where the expressive in the international scenario and first gymnastics federation of the country reached the technical level to compete with was founded. The gymnastics discipline major top class gymnasts, such as the spread to the states of São Paulo and Rio de United States, Russia, Romania, and China. Janeiro and, in 1948, these first three We also highlight the importance of this federations joined the Brazilian Sports generation of gymnasts for the restructuring Confederation. In 1951 the Brazilian Sports and development of WAG in Brazil since Confederation joined the International 2000 (Brazilian Olympic Committee Gymnastics Federation and the first Artistic [COB], 2003); (Schiavon, 2009; Schiavon et Gymnastics championships were organized al., 2013; Schiavon; Paes, 2012). In in the country (Publio, 1998). addition, we observe the effects of the 2001- In Brazil, Artistic Gymnastics began to 2004 Olympic cycle on the evolution of this develop in 1966, and Marion Faedrich sport in the international scenario (COB, Dullius was the first gymnast to represent 2006; Schiavon, 2009; Schiavon et al., the country at the World Gymnastics 2013; Schiavon; Paes, 2012; Nunomura; Championships in Czechoslovakia. In 1978 Oliveira, 2012). the Brazilian Gymnastics Confederation was Many changes occurred during this created and, for the first time, Brazil was period and corroborated this evolution, such represented by an women team in the World as the investments never seen before in the Championship. The highlight of the team history of Artistic Gymnastics in Brazil. was the gymnast Lilian Carrascozza, who Currently, gymnasts have proper conditions obtained the world-class gymnast to excel in the sport, as access to recognition from the International technology, financial support, and a Science of Gymnastics Journal 454 Science of Gymnastics Journal Molinari, CI.; Costa, VR.; Monteiro, KOFF.; Nunomura, M.: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE … Vol. 10 Issue 3: 453 - 466 multidisciplinary team (Schiavon; Paes, The costs of the Training Center 2012; Schiavon, Paes, Toledo & Deutsch, included the technical committee and the 2013). multidisciplinary team accompanying the A fact that calls attention to this athletes, maintenance of the gymnasts, evolution is the creation of the Excellence infrastructure of the place and international Training Center, which ran from 2001 to exchanges. The expenses were funded by 2008. This Training Center was inspired by the resources of the Agnelo Piva Law and the Russian model of centralized training, in Brazilian Gymnastics Confederation which the selected gymnasts trained sponsors (Oliveira, 2010). intensively in the format of boarding In 2001 the selected gymnasts began to schools in a place with offered proper train in the Training Center in Curitiba, a infrastructure for high performance sport, fact that standardized the team and allowing direct control of the training and contributed directly to the evolution of other aspects involved in the development WAG in Brazil (Nunomura & Oliveira, of an elite athlete (COB, 2006; Nunomura & 2012). Oliveira, 2012). It is important to emphasize that the The Brazilian Gymnastics evolution of this sport is reflected both in Confederation began planning the Training the world championship medals in 2001 and Center in 1995 with the support of the the classifying in the Olympic Games in Brazilian Olympic Committee (Nunomura 2004. This is a reflection of the high & Oliveira, 2012). The construction of this investment and hard work of the gymnasts place began in 1997 and in 1999 foreign and coaches (De Bosscher et al., 2009; coaches came to coach the WAG Brazilian Nunomura & Oliveira, 2012; Bohme; team (Nunomura & Oliveira, 2012). Bastos, 2016). Among the hired coaches there were Although the evolution is clear, there those who succeeded at international are signs that reveal problems in the scenario and are very recognized due to organization of the sport in Brazil (Bohme; their expertise, an important factor for the Bastos, 2016). Restructuring depends on a technical development of WAG in Brazil high investment, however, despite the (Federal Council of Physical Education Agnelo Piva Law, the Athlete Scholarships [CREF], 2004). The combination of these Program, having benefited some high renowned coaches with Brazilian gymnasts performance