Blythe Lawrence - Behind the Scenes Gymnastics

by Blythe Lawrence

Lerner Publications Minneapolis

Copyright 2020 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Lawrence, Blythe, author.

Title: Behind the scenes gymnastics / Blythe Lawrence.

Description: Minneapolis : Lerner Publications, [2020] | Series: Inside the sport | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Audience: Ages: | Audience: Grades:

Identifiers: LCCN 2018050534 (print) | LCCN 2019004535 (ebook) | ISBN 9781541556294 (eb pdf) | ISBN 9781541556089 (lb : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781541574373 (pb : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: GymnastsJuvenile literature. | GymnasticsTrainingJuvenile literature. | GymnasticsTraining. sears

Classification: LCC GV461.3 (ebook) | LCC GV461.3 .L38 2020 (print) | DDC 796.44dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018050534

Manufactured in the United States of America 1-CG-7/15/19

Contents

Simone Biless outstanding score on the floor exercise was needed for Team USA to win the Olympic gold medal.

Gold Medals

Introduction

S imone Biles stood at the edge of the spring floor. She tried not to look at the Olympic rings. The nineteen-year-old gymnast still could not believe she was actually at the 2016 Olympic Games. She was about to compete in the last event of the womens gymnastics team final.

Biles had dreamed of this for many years. She had practiced for thousands of hours. In this moment she just had to perform one more great floor routine. Then the US womens team would be Olympic gold medalists.

Facts at a Glance

Female gymnasts compete in four events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. Men compete in six events: floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar.

Many gymnasts start practicing at a young age.

Gymnasts train a lot to perfect their routines. The top gymnasts may spend up to forty hours per week preparing before major competitions.

Gymnasts connect with fans through social media, master classes, and volunteer work.