Gymnastics Australia responds to latest national AusPlay report

Gymnastics Australia has welcomed findings in the latest national AusPlay report that indicate gymnastics’ growth in popularity with 122,000 more Australian children taking part in the sport than in the previous year.

The AusPlay report - Australian’s largest and most comprehensive survey of sport and physical recreation - shows gymnastics joining swimming, football/soccer and dancing (recreational) as the most popular activities amongst Australian children.

Speaking to the report’s findings, Gymnastics Australia Chief Executive, Alexandra Ash said it was fantastic to see even more young Australians experiencing the enjoyment of the sport.

Ash noted “Gymnastics has traditionally been a popular activity for children across the country, particularly in those fundamental years of a child’s development. To see gymnastics once again the second most popular physical activity for this age group speaks to why so many people continue to participate.

“We know our sport provides young Australians with the basic skills and knowledge for all aspects of life. And this result is testament to our affiliated clubs which do an incredible job in educating and enabling practice of these vital skills. Running programs like KinderGym, they are providing a new generation of Australians with the confidence and motivation to move their bodies.

“Gymnastics has always been hugely popular with young Australians, but it is particularly encouraging to see more Australian’s have their lives enriched by our sport.

The increase in demand for gymnastics classes can be seen nationwide, with participation levels in the sport in both metropolitan and rural areas at a strong level.

Emma Oatley, owner and manager of All The Way Up Gymnastics in Sydney shared “Gymnastics is such an amazing sport no matter what level of participation. It doesn’t matter if you come for one hour per week or twenty you develop coordination and strength that feeds into almost every other sport.

“We have worked hard to create a fun environment for both our coaches and the children. We are lucky to have built a great community at ATWU and I really do attribute the growth we have seen, especially this term, to our wonderful coaches.”

The continued growth in gymnastics at a grassroots level reflects the recent successes of Australian elite athletes across the globe, with the last 12 months seeing the Women’s Artistic team qualify for their first Olympic Games since 2012 and five Trampoline gymnasts claiming World Championship titles.

Key Findings

• Second most popular sport for girls under the age of 5 - 135,000 participants

• Second most popular sport for girls for ages 5-8 - 210,00 participants

• Third most popular sport for children under 15 in LOTE households - 132,000 participants

• Fifth most popular sport for boys ages 0-4 - 95,000 participants

Image. Credit: All the Way Up Gymnastics.