Gymnasts (29) - With Focus on Training Action for Apparatus and Handstands (Extended Edition!)

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OLDER POSTS - SOMETIMES THERE IS MORE THAN ONE A DAY!

Gymnasts need to train in three different ways - for strength (to hold balances, change position etc), for flexibility (to attin the body positions needed), and for endurance (to maintain 100% perfection for the length of a routine including the final dismount.

Today we show some of those tough exercises as well as the usual general pictures of gymnasts in their gyms. Starting with a perfect straight-leg entry into a simple handstand... after which Alexander (Ukraine) and then Andreii (Russia) show us how hard they train:

Two professional acrobats achieve a direct lift to one-arm balance:

Bring back Andreii, practicing his one-arm transitions:

Alexander brings us more training for strength and flexibility:

On the beach: weights and then somersaults:

Tumbletrack - from The Netherlands:

...and, from the same group, a superb shot of parallel-bar handstand and over-somersaults, from below the bars:

Great to see such a happy young gymnast!

Back to 'stills' now: handstands first: 

 

Bit of a back bend there, and shoulders not 'open' enough: otherwise a good shape - the next guy gets the shoulders right but has 'lost' one leg just as the camera clicked...

 

Pair work - a planche handbalance:

More training shots from Andreii and the Yevgeny:

Adding resistance to your push-ups to gain shoulder strength (and upper back and chest too)!

Yevgeny puts that strength to work in his pommel-horse routine:

...and

Gymnasts spend a lot of time on their hands in various ways:

Adreii 'relaxes' in his home gym (and shows off his competition medals!):

Finally, even in the gym, no-one wastes time: out come the weights:

No let-up for Christmas, either: