Stretching the hip flexors, hamstrings, quadriceps and groin muscles on a daily basis will help you get into the splits fast.

With her new book, “Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance” Simone Biles inspires us with an emotional account of being called fat by her coach.

During a back handspring, you jump backwards to land on your hands and kick your feet over your head. It's mostly seen in gymnastics, but other athletes such as martial artists do it too. A large part of performing back handsprings is conquering the fear of going end over end.

Gymnastics requires strength, flexibility and body awareness. It is a complex sport that is best learned under the guidance of a trained professional in a properly-equipped facility.

Doing a split looks easy when gymnasts or cheerleaders do it, but it’s harder than it appears for anyone who is not naturally flexible or who is new to flexibility training. Stretching out the inner thigh, hamstrings and calf muscles is necessary for a perfect split.

A split is a popular move in gymnastics where the legs are extended in opposite directions so that they are parallel to each other. Like other moves in gymnastics, a split also requires physical strength, flexibility, coordination and balance.

With elite gymnasts often competing in their teens and retiring in their 20s, gymnastics may seem like a sport for the youthful, but it’s really for everyone.

Gymnastics and ballet both center on the athlete’s body movements -- the strength, balance, flexibility and artistry displayed in a performance. Despite these similarities, gymnastics and ballet are two different physical activities.

Whether a gymnast plans to eventually compete on a team or wants only to participate in the sport recreationally, all gymnasts in the USA Gymnastics program must master the required skills in Level 1 before advancing to the next level.

Gymnastics requires a great deal of strength, balance, coordination, agility and body awareness to perform the various moves and avoid injury. Beginners will greatly benefit from certain gymnastics drills that help to improve all areas of fitness, as well as get their bodies ready for more advanced moves.

In a practice setting, it doesn’t matter if your underwear shows beneath your gymnastics leotard, except in matters of personal taste. In competition, however, judges will actually deduct points if your underwear is visible.

Before you backflip your way down the football field before the big game, you have to land that coveted spot on your high school's cheerleading team. Although every school's tryout expectations vary, there are some cheer and tumbling staples you can expect at any tryout.