CONTENTS:

• Section A: Athletes
  1. - Why are the gymnasts so young and why do they retire so early?
  2. - Why do little kids move away from home to train?
  3. - Is there a ranking system?
  4. - Why didn't <famous gymnast> compete at...?
  5. - Whatever happened to...?
  6. - Who's who in the gymnastics world?
  7. - How do I send fan mail/get an autograph?
  8. - How does a gymnast become an "elite"?
• Section B: Competitions
  1. - What are the more prestigious meets?
  2. - What is Olympic Order?
  3. - How does a gymnast know when to start his/her routine?
  4. - What is podium training?
  5. - What are compulsories?
  6. - How do they pick the Olympics/Worlds team?
  7. - What are the upcoming competitions? How do I get tickets?
• Section C: Scoring/Judging
  1. - What is the Code of Points?
  2. - How are gymnasts scored?
  3. - Are the gymnasts required to do any specific moves?
  4. - What is a "start value"? What is "bonus"?
  5. - What deductions do judges take?
  6. - What is Competition 1A, etc.?
  7. - Why is the Code revised every four years?
  8. - What is the highest rank for a judge, and how do they get it?
  9. - So-and-so was over/underscored. Why?
  10. - Do gymnasts submit a routine ahead of time to a judge?
  11. - How do judges remember what a gymnast has done when he scores a routine?
• Section D: Technical Elements
  1. - About this section.
  2. - How are the moves named?
  3. - Basics.
  4. - Vault.
  5. - Uneven bars and high bar.
  6. - Balance beam.
  7. - Dance.
  8. - Tumbling.
  9. - Pommel Horse.
  10. - Rings.
  11. - Parallel bars.
• Section E: History
  1. - How did gymnastics begin?
  2. - Who was the first to...?
  3. - Who are the current champions?
  4. - Who are the former champions?
• Section F: Other
  1. - What is the IOC? (FIG, USOC, USAG, USGF, NCAA, AAU?)
  2. - How do I get tickets to...?
  3. - Why don't gymnasts really compete as a team, all at once...?
  4. - What is rhythmic gymnastics?
  5. - How do I get involved?
  6. - What do gymnasts wear?
  7. - What is the chalk for?
• Section G: References
• Version 1.01. Last modified December 16, 1995

  Copyright (c) 1995 by Rachele Harless and Debbie Poe, all rights reserved. This FAQ may be posted to any USENET newsgroup, on-line service or BBS as long as it is posted in its entirety and includes this copyright statement. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this document at no charge or at a charge that covers reproduction and cost of the copies, provided that the copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved on all copies. This FAQ may not be included in commercial collections or compilations without express permission from the authors.