Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Twist and Tumble: Gymnastics at the Olympics
Photo by Tom Theobald
Jen ran across the floor, tumbled in time with the music, and ended her routine with perfect form. Now all she had to do was try to wait patiently for the judges' score. She closed her eyes, crossed her fingers, and hoped she'd worked hard enough to earn the perfect 10. Suddenly the crowd went wild! Jen opened her eyes and peeked at the scoreboard. She'd done it! She finally earned a perfect score! Her coach ran to hug her and whispered, "A few more meets like this, and you'll be ready for the Olympic team!" Jen could only hope that he was right.
Gymnastics is a popular sport in the Summer Olympics. Male and female teams, made up of six gymnasts each, compete against teams from other countries. They compete in different events. Male teams participate in six events. They use their upper body strength and flexibility to perform on the rings, horizontal bar, parallel bars, pommel (or side) horse, and the vaulting (or long) horse. Male gymnasts also do acrobatic routines during the floor exercise. This event shows off their ability to twist, turn, and tumble.
