Rant

 

I love rhythmic gymnastics with all my heart but when it comes to dealing with the mats we use to compete I can’t help but feel a bit angry. If you’ve watched a video of a gymnast doing her routine you would know that a gymnast may spend her time on the ground or close to the ground. You would also realize that with all the jumping and rolling and such, you would probably want a well supporting mat to do your routine on but that’s not quite the situation here. These mats that we are required to compete and practice on have no padding on them and are only about half an inch thick. Coming from experience, these mats are not at all supportive and are basically useless. In April of 2014 I competed in the Western Regional Championships at the Duckworth centre at the University of Winnipeg and the floor is wooden. In my routine I had a drop to my knees and after about 3 times of doing this drop, both of my knees were completely bruised, swollen and hurt to touch. I had to compete like that with three routines. I still get pains in one of my knees from that competition. I don’t understand how in any way shape or form, someone can think that these mats are going to keep anyone from getting hurt. They cause rug burn from the slightest glide on them and they’re so slippery, you can’t even do anything without worrying if you’re going to fall and hurt yourself. I’m not asking for a super cushioned mat that will feel like clouds when I do my routine on it, I’m just asking for a carpet that will support my ankles and knees and cushion my fall. Besides, if gymnasts have to wear knee pads to protect themselves from the mat, thats probably a sign that these mats don't work.