gymnastics

Everyday

1. Gymnastics is a sport of exercises that show strength, balance and flexibility, like rolls, cartwheels, handstands and moves on bars and beams. tree →
2. Gymnastics can mean very clever or difficult thinking or moves: «mental gymnastics». tree →

In the lessons

In PE lessons gymnastics includes rolls, balances, jumps and sequences on mats and apparatus; you warm up first and use mats for safety. In the Olympics, gymnasts compete on the floor, vault, bars, beam, rings and pommel horse, and judges give scores. Phrases: «do gymnastics», «gymnastics club», «artistic gymnastics», «rhythmic gymnastics», «mental gymnastics».

Examples

• She goes to gymnastics every Tuesday. tree →
• Gymnastics is my favourite part of PE. tree →
• We did a gymnastics sequence with a roll and a balance. tree →
• Gymnastics needs strength and flexibility. tree →
• The gymnastics team won a gold medal. tree →
• Rhythmic gymnastics uses ribbons, hoops and balls. tree →
• Always use a mat when you practise gymnastics. tree →
• Solving that puzzle took some mental gymnastics. tree →

Note

Though it ends in -s, «gymnastics» as a sport takes a singular verb: «Gymnastics is fun.» A person who does it is a «gymnast». Short form: «gym» (also the room). Spelling: g-y-m-n-a-s-t-i-c-s (y, not i).