Olympics view on gymnastics: How gymnastics is a base for many Olympic sports


Disciplines such as diving, aerial skiing, and pole vault are obviously more gymnastics-related, but the sport can also provide a foundation in more unexpected ways.

We've all seen the viral clips of little kids emulating their favourite gymnasts competing at the Olympic Games, the too-big leotard hanging loose around the knees of a toddler, agog at what they are watching on the TV screen.

The one with the father helping his young child emulate London 2012Olympic floor champion Aly Raisman, wearing a similar stars-and-stripes designed leotard with dad helping with the somersaults (thankfully on the soft cushioning of a bed), is adorable.

These kids might then have an opportunity to try gymnastics, but won't necessarily grow up to become an artistic, trampoline or rhythmic gymnast, the three Olympic disciplines.

However, the skills learned – balance, core strength, coordination, confidence, poise, aerial awareness and flexibility to name but a few – often transfer to many other sporting disciplines, including some surprising ones.

So, as the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships concludes, and the Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships is about to begin – from 6-9 November in Pamplona, Spain – we take a look at some winter and summer Olympians who have used their original gymnastics base to excel in another sport.

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