Bouncy, rolling and tricky. All of these describe the ball – one of the five apparatus in rhythmic gymnastics.
Rhythmic gymnastics was born in Russia in 1920-1930, and exactly at that time the ball appeared in the sport. The first gymnastics balls resembled tennis balls in terms of size. Now such type of equipment is only used during physical preparation training to increase the level of coordination. Can you imagine the dexterity a gymnast must have to perform with them?
Gradually the ball’s diameter grew, and along with catches and throws from hand to hand, rolls over the body became possible. The modern-day ball was internationally approved in 1965.
In the Soviet Union, it wasn’t easy to find professional apparatus, which is why gymnasts often practiced with ordinary rubber balls. “It was usually bought in Detsky Mir (toy store). You were lucky if you managed to find a ball without bumps. If not – deal with it. Train as you can,” said Olympic champion Elena Shalamova, recalling her youth career in the 1980 – 1990s in an interview with Gymnastics Talks.
Nowadays, a rhythmic gymnastics ball can be bought in specialized sports stores. It can be any color: shimmering, a single tone, with glitter and decorations or without. It can be made of rubber or synthetic material (high-quality polyvinyl chloride). The requirements for the ball are strictly regulated: it must be 18 to 20 cm in diameter and have a minimum weight of 400 grams.
Traditionally it is assumed that the ball underlines a gymnast’s flexibility and plasticity. A tendency to choose elegant lyrical and classical music for ball routines still prevails. But in recent years, dynamic ball programs have emerged. For example, Dina and Arina Averina have often preferred energetic music for their ball routines. Dina’s routine to Volare in 2017 and Arina’s Kill Bill program in the 2020-21 season deserve a special mention.