The best age to begin training in rhythmic gymnastics is considered to be 3-4 years old. At that age, children’s muscles and ligaments are soft and flexible, which allows for good stretching and flexibility even without having perfect natural abilities. But is it necessary to get involved in sports that early?
The history of rhythmic gymnastics has many examples of champions who started practicing relatively late. For instance, 2016 Olympic gold medalist Margarita Mamun started at the age of 7. According to Margarita, she “was trying to reach the same level” as the girls her age who were capable of doing difficult gymnastic routines. Later, she looked up to older girls and tried to follow in their footsteps.
Multiple world champion Olga Kapranova also took up gymnastics at the same age. The former athlete thinks it’s too early to start training at the age of 2-3 and working with objects at 5-6.
Besides, the sporting career of future champions hasn’t always begun with rhythmic gymnastics. For example, 2000 Olympic champion Yulia Barsukova practiced figure skating for five years. But she fell in love with gymnastics after watching their beautiful performance. She was 8, when her father signed her up at the gymnastics club.
Olympic silver medalist Irina Tchachina became involved with two types of sports at age 5 – gymnastics and swimming. A year later, having failed to learn how to swim, she quit to fully concentrate on gymnastics.
Оказывается, необязательно начинать тренировки в 3 года, чтобы стать чемпионом. Вполне возможно начать позже, но большое значение имеют природная склонность к спорту, трудолюбие и желание.