The Gymnastics Book: The Young
Performers Guide to Gymnastics
(Young Performers Guide) by Claire
Ross Dunn
Useful Guide If You're Considering Or Getting Started In Gymnastics
This indispensable guide is simply the best book for beginners to the
sport of artistic gymnastics. Illustrated with stunning full-color photographs
of gymnasts swinging, balancing, tumbling and jumping, The Gymnastics
Book features skilled guidance from a medal-winning athlete who is now a
noted instructor. The topics covered in detail include finding a good
gymnastics club, qualities to look for in a coach, warm-up and cool-down
exercises, moving into competitive gymnastics, managing victories and
losses, the importance of family and friends, nutrition and apparel, financial
aspects, and a typical day in the life of a competitive gymnast.
The book is also filled with anecdotes and advice from Olympic stars,
taking beginners behind the scenes and offering a no-holds-barred
account of the life of a competitive gymnast.
Personal Review: The Gymnastics Book: The Young Performers
Guide to Gymnastics (Young Performers Guide) by Claire Ross
Dunn
For less than the cost of a single gymnastics lesson, you won't go wrong
reading this before signing up for gymnastics class! Very nicely done

guide to gymnastics, written by Elfi Schlegel, a former Canadian national
champion and University of Florida NCAA champion gymnast, along with
Claire Ross Dunn. This book provides detailed information for girls (boys,
too) considering gymnastics and wishing to develop their beginning
gymnastics skills. The book addresses reasons for choosing to pursue
gymastics, what to look for in a gym and coach, how to get started, staying
healthy, basic gymnastics skills, recreational gymnastics, and competitive
gymnastics.
Throughout the book, there are many photographs of young girls
demonstrating skills and techniques. There are also many photographs of
Efli Schlegel as a child performing a gymnastics stunt. There are a few
photographs of boys, but they're definitely not the target audience. Skills
are often shown through a series of photographs and detailed
explanations, which are instrumental in showing EXACTLY what one
should do in order to master a skill -- such as learning how to do a
handstand or a cartwheel. All apparati used in both boys' and girls'
gymnastics are featured.
Particularly enjoyable is the section at the back of the book on the people
and moments most impacted the author -- she calls this "Elfi's scrapbook."
It features Olga Korbut, Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, Vitaly
Scherbo, and others.
The book looks a little bit dated (copyright 2001), but the information
seems current. Although it describes the benefits and fun parts of
gymnastics, it doesn't glamorize gymnastics. Nor does it minimize the
amount of time and committment that is required in order to compete,
particularly at the senior level. The "Day in the Life of a Competitive
Gymnast" may help keep your young gymnast from getting stars in her
eyes and dreaming of the Olympics.
Overall, this is a book that young gymnasts will return to time and time
again, that provides information useful to beginning gymnasts and to
parents guiding their children through the beginning stages of gymnastics.
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