Gymnastics
A sport that requires participants to develop and perform strength, balance, fexibility, agility, coordination, and endurance skills with or without apparatus.
Gymnastics, in various forms, has been practised in Australia since the 1800's, although the first state coordinating bodies were first formed in the 1930's. 1
Discover more about gymnastics through the Clearinghouse evidence base:
- Modified Sports - adaptations that make gymnastics more inclusive and accessible.
- Australian Sport History - history and Hall of Fame information about gymnastics.
Evolution:
- Australian Gymnastics Union [1949-1968]
- Australian Amateur Gymnastics Union [1968-1977]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation [1977-1998]
- Gymnastics Australia [1998-]
Participation
An estimated 123,500 Australians [aged 15+] participated in gymnastics at least once in 2024. 2
An estimated 328,500 Australian children [aged 0-14] participated in gymnastics at least once in 2024. 2
An estimated 75,000 Australian women [aged 15+] and 47,500 Australian men [aged 15+] participated in gymnastics at least once in 2024. 2
Explore further participation statistics for gymnastics through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab
Governing body
Gymnastics Australia, opens in a new tab is the organisation recognised by government at all levels as the National controlling body for the sport of gymnastics in Australia. The organisation encompasses seven gymsports including Men’s and Women's Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline Gymnastics, Aerobic Gymnastics, Acrobatic Gymnastics, and Gymnastics for All. 3
Following the initial creation of the Australian Gymnastics Union in 1949 by the state gymnastics organisations from New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, other states gradually joined until all states/territories were represented in 1981, shortly after the organisation became the Australian Gymnastics Federation in 1977, and then Gymnastics Australia in 1998. 1
REFERENCES
- A brief history of Gymnastics in Australia, opens in a new tab, Gregory S Kolt, Robert J Kirkby, Australian Society of Sports History (ASSH) Bulletin, Number 26, (June 1997).
- AusPlay Data Portal: Sport-related participation – frequency of participation, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 12 Janary 2026).
- About Us, opens in a new tab, Gymnastics Australia, (accessed 12 January 2026).
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2024[PDF • 9.79 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2023[PDF • 6.45 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2022[PDF • 8.72 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2021[PDF • 27.48 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2020[PDF • 9 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2019[PDF • 13.21 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2018[PDF • 8.32 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2017[PDF • 7.4 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2016[PDF • 4.47 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2015[PDF • 4.65 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2014[PDF • 7.38 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2013[PDF • 9.24 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2012[PDF • 4.88 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2011[PDF • 1.47 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2010[PDF • 3.76 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2009[PDF • 2.47 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2008[PDF • 18.87 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2007[PDF • 12.49 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2006[PDF • 3.49 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2005[PDF • 7.76 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2004[PDF • 1.53 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2003[PDF • 1.14 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2002[PDF • 1.1 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2001[PDF • 19.98 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 2000[PDF • 22.79 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 1999[PDF • 18.13 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Annual Report 1998[PDF • 18.54 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1997[PDF • 19.48 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1995[PDF • 10.04 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1994[PDF • 5.47 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1993[PDF • 7.42 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1992[PDF • 9.07 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1991[PDF • 6.9 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1990[PDF • 8.72 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1989[PDF • 5.99 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1988[PDF • 7.35 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1987[PDF • 8.72 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1986[PDF • 6.25 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1985[PDF • 3.33 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1984[PDF • 5.58 mb]
- Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1980-1981[PDF • 2.68 mb]
Australian Gymnastic Federation Annual Report 1996 not held.
- Gymnastics Australia Inspire 2032 (2024)[PDF • 6.33 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Strategic Framework 2022-2024[PDF • 2.16 mb]
- Gymnastics in Australia Strategic Plan 2022[PDF • 423.3 kb]
- Gymnastics in Australia: A whole of sport approach (2017)[PDF • 1.55 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Strategic Plan 2013-2016[PDF • 3.23 mb]
- Gymnastics Australia Strategic Plan 2009-2012[PDF • 435.64 kb]
- Gymnastics Australia Child Safe Policy 2019[PDF • 718.44 kb]
- Gymnastics Australia Member Protection Policy 2019[PDF • 485.64 kb]
- Western Australian Institute of Sport Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Program Review (2022)[PDF • 6.92 mb]
- Review of High Performance Structure in Australian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (2007)[PDF • 326.14 kb]
- Report of the Independent Inquiry into Women's Artistic Gymnastics at the Australian Institute of Sport (1995)[PDF • 11.12 mb]
