Nothing will motivate you to start your gymnastics journey at House of GPA
more than looking at exceptional examples from around the world. From the US to
the Soviet Union, here are some of the greatest gymnasts in history.
Simone Biles
American gymnast Simone Biles has won a whopping 30 medals at the
Olympic and world championships, and even began winning gold at age 16 during
the Antwerp Championships. She has multiple tricks named after her, such as the
‘Biles’ on floor, which consists of a double layout with a half twist. She is also known
as an advocate for mental health, and often champions taking a break to relieve
pressure and expectation: she withdrew from some events at the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics after struggling with the “twisties”. This is when a mental block occurs for
gymnasts, allowing them to not fully commit to the move and can result in serious
injury. Simone’s boldness in standing up for her own well-being was revolutionary for
the sport, and she remains one of the greatest gymnasts, not just in recent years, but
of all time.
Larisa Latynina
In 1956, aged 21, Latynina made her debut at the 1956 Olympic games and
took home the gold, and until 2012 she had won the most Olympic medals in history
(18!). The Ukrainian began her career in ballet, but found her love for gymnastics at
a young age and had a long and prosperous career before retiring in 1966 and
becoming the coach for the Soviet Union gymnastics team. As one of the first young
women to excel in the sport, she remains an excellent inspiration to many up-and-
coming gymnasts, dancers and performers.
Kohei Uchimura
Also known as ‘King Kohei’, Uchimura dominated the sport for over a decade
and is one of the best male gymnastics of all time. Originally from Japan, he’s most
famous for his bar routine which was noted as a ‘high-risk’ performance at the 2012
Olympic games in London. He’s won a total of 7 Olympic medals, 3 of which are
gold. His mindset is that of precision, and he consistently has incredible technique,
precision and attention to detail.
If you or your child are ready to be the next big name in gymnastics, head
down to House of GPA to begin your journey to Olympic success. Take a look at the
booking link below, and we can’t wait to see you soon!
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