| Highestgoverning body | World Gymnastics |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No contact |
| Mixed-sex | No, separate |
| Venue | Gymnasium |
| Presence | |
| Paralympic | No |
Para-gymnastics, also known asdisability gymnastics andpara gymnastics, is a discipline ofgymnastics fordisabled athletes. It was recognized as an officialWorld Gymnastics discipline in October 2024.
TheFédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) maintained a Gymnastics for All committee. In 2018, they expanded the Gymnastics for All program by forming an alliance of gymnastics federations. Countries such as theUnited States have held team competitions teams of athletes with disabilities, while countries likeGreat Britain have held championships for individual competitors.[1]
In October 2024, FIG recognized para-gymnastics as an official FIG discipline.[2] FIG defined the discipline as "Competitive Gymnastics performed on different pieces of apparatus for those gymnasts with approvedPara classification," and approved it forartistic gymnastics.[3] As of 2024, para-gymnastics is limited to national competition.[4][5]
Great Britain had a national para-gymnastics squad, but it disbanded in 2013.[5] In 2016, more than 200 clubs affiliated withBritish Gymnastics officially offered disability gymnastics programs, representing over 1,500 disabled members. In 2020, British Gymnastics officially formed the British Gymnastics Disability Gymnastics Panel.[5] British Gymnastics is working on a FIG Code of Points for Men's and Women's Artistic Para-Gymnastics, and on creating a classification structure, with the goals of hosting the first FIG Para-Gymnastics World Championships in 2027 andParalympic inclusion in 2032.[6][7]