A week after the rhythmic championships, Baku hosted the 11th European Championships in Aerobic Gymnastics from 24 to 26 May 2019. Junior and senior gymnasts competed across the full set of aerobic categories.
The categories
Aerobic gymnastics has more categories than most gymnastics disciplines: - Individual women and individual men - Mixed pairs - Trios - Groups of five - Aero dance, a group category with stronger dance content - Aero step, in some competitions, performed on and around a step platform
In Baku, juniors contested qualifications on the Friday, seniors on the Saturday, and finals for both followed on the Sunday.
What judges are looking for
An aerobic routine lasts about 80 seconds and is performed to high-tempo music. Judges assess difficulty elements (floor strength elements, airborne jumps and leaps, and standing balance and flexibility elements), artistry and execution. Fitness is visible in every routine: gymnasts must perform push-up variations, high kicks and explosive jumps without losing synchronisation or expression.
A compact, intense format
The three-day schedule meant some gymnasts competed in two or three categories over a weekend. Multiple medals were possible for versatile athletes, but fatigue was a real factor by the Sunday finals.
Why aerobic gymnastics deserves a look
Aerobic gymnastics combines athleticism with entertainment in a way that makes sense to audiences new to the sport. Its competitions are short, fast and loud. It also offers a competitive path for gymnasts who enjoy performance and music but do not want to specialise in apparatus work.
Related
See our Aerobic Gymnastics page, and gymnastics at the 2019 European Games, where aerobics also featured.
