Final gymnastics places at Rio 2016 Olympic Games to be decided at test event
Some of the world’s best artistic, rhythmic and trampoline gymnasts will compete as organisers test operations at Rio Olympic Arena
The three gymnastics disciplines will be staged at Rio Olympic Arena during the Games (Getty Images)
Text: Patricia da Matta
The Rio 2016 test event programme is entering the final straight and among the nine competitions to be staged next month is one of the biggest and most important: the Final Gymnastics Qualifier for the Olympic Games, on 16-22 April at Rio Olympic Arena. As the name suggests, it will offer the last chance for gymnasts to qualify for the most important competition in their sport, while Games organisers will test almost all of their operations to Olympic levels.
With some of the best gymnasts in the world in action in Barra Olympic Park, the event will also allow the public to see some top-level sport and get a taste of the excitement that will grip the city in August. Tickets, priced between R$20 and R$30 (US$5.50-US$11), for the qualifier on sale on the Aquece Rio website.
With more than 100 Olympic places up for grabs across the three gymnastics disciplines – artistic, rhythmic and trampoline – the test event will see 308 gymnasts from 62 countries in action at the 13,000-seat Olympic venue.
“The test event allows us to get a feel for things within the confines of the Games four months before the big competition begins”
Bruno Grandi, President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG)
While some gymnasts seek the perfect combination of sporting and artistic performance, such as the Russian rhythmic gymnasts, others hope to impress the judges by creating orginal, highly technical movements, such as the USA's Cuban-born Danell Leyva. But everyone has one thing in common: the dream of a perfect 10, which Nadia Comaneci did for the frist time in 1976.
Rio 2016 will use the qualifier to test its operations on a large scale, explained Mariana Accardo, Rio 2016’s trampoline competition manager. “It’s one of the events that we consider a ‘major’. In these, we simulate practially all the operations that we will have during the Games, such as venue management, transport, catering, refereeing and work force,” she said. “One of the most important aspects is the crowd flow control, especially on 17 April, when we will have four sessions in one day.
Roberto Nasser, artistic gymnastics competition manager, said Rio 2016 would have a specific challenge to deal with. “It’s the first time in the history of the Games that the three disciplines will be held in the same venue on consecutive days,” he said. “Therefore, the switching of equipment between each discipline will be a very important test for us.”
Find out what is in store for each discipline at the qualifier:
Artistic Gymnastics
Between 16 and 18 April, 214 gymnasts from 57 countries will compete in individual and team competitions. Eight men’s and eight women’s teams will fight for the last four places in each gender available at the Rio 2016 Games. The men’s team event will be on 16 April, the women’s the following day, with the men’s and women’s apparatus finals on the 18 April. The women’s teams are Brazil, France, Belgium, Germany, Romania, Australia, Republic of Korea and Switzerland. The men’s teams are Germany, France, Netherlands, Ukraine, Spain, Romania, Canada and Belarus.
Become an artistic gymnastics expert with our interactive infographic
Women's teams advancing to the Rio Test Event next April: BRA, FRA, BEL, GER, ROU, AUS, KOR, SUI. Congrats to all! pic.twitter.com/GdJqwnYwd8
— FIG (@gymnastics) 24 de outubro de 2015
The event will also see the final places for the individual competitions decided, with at least 18 men and 24 women set to qualify. The best-performing gymnasts from countries whose teams have not qualified will guarantee their berths. Among those chasing a place will be Romania’s Catalina Ponor, who won team gold and individual floor silver at London 2012.
Some of the already qualified teams – such as men’s reigning Olympic champions China and women’s world championships bronze medallists Great Britain – will also be in action at the test event.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
A total of 62 gymnasts from 20 countries will compete on 21 and 22 April. Seven nations will compete in the group event: Brazil, Uzbekistan, Germany, Azerbaijan, Greece, Finland and the Republic of Korea. There are three Olympic places to be filled, and if Brazil, who have a place guaranteed as host nation, finish in the top three, the fourth placed-team will also qualify.
Become an rhythmic gymnastics expert with our interactive infographic
Twenty-six gymnasts will compete for six places in the individual events at Rio 2016 (a further three slots are reserved to guarantee that all continents are represented, plus one for the host nation and one invite). Among the highlights is Russian Margarita Mamun, who has won seven gold medals in world championships. Check out her gold medal performance in Izmir, Turkey in 2014:
Trampoline Gymnastics
On the 19 April, 32 gymnasts – 16 women, 16 men – from 19 countries will battle for five places at the Rio 2016 Games (a further three slots are reserved to guarantee that all continents are represented). Among those in action will be Chinese sensation Li Dan.
Become an trampoline gymnastics expert with our interactive infographic
Follow the race to qualify for the Olympic Games
Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.
