Panama hosts an FIG Academy for Acrobatic Gymnastics

Panama hosted the third Spanish language FIG Academy for Acrobatic Gymnastics in Panama City from September 13 - 20, 2014. This was the 10th Academy for that discipline and the 179th overall. With the first Level 2 Academy for Acrobatic Gymnastics having been held in 2009 in Portugal, this course was only the second one of its kind. 

Thirteen coaches representing six countries – Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Puerto Rico – participated in the Academy that was funded by the FIG Development Fund for the Pan-American Gymnastics Union (PAGU). It was open to all Level 2 eligible coaches from Spanish speaking FIG member federations.

The course leader was Lilia Ortiz Lopez of Mexico who has served frequently as FIG expert at Academies and Age Group Programme sessions. She taught most of the theory lectures and artistic preparation. Two other experts came from Europe to teach at this Academy. Lourenço França of Portugal who coaches the Portuguese National Team taught technical lectures and biomechanics. He was joined by Jorge Mendez, one of Spain’s national coaches and who served as a FIG expert for the first time.

The three-part examination proved quite challenging because not many participants were very familiar with this discipline. The examination includes a theory examination and a two-part practical examination where the candidates must demonstrate the ability to teach an individual element and a group element.

However, most achieved satisfactory results and some received excellent results. Sheerimar Garcia of Puerto Rico received the highest marks. He was followed closely by Alexandra Pereira of Brazil and Carlos Andrade of Colombia.

Thanks go to the Panama Gymnastics Federation and thank you to Camilo Amado, the President of the Panama Gymnastics Federation and President of the Panama Olympic Committee for providing everything necessary to host this Academy successfully. Thanks also for the constant hard work before and during the Academy of Teresita Medrano.

Another Academy is about to finish in Senegal. It is an Academy for Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics. The last three months of 2014 will see nine more Academies in Philippines, Mongolia, Bolivia (2), Costa Rica, Australia (2), Cuba and Benin. There will also be coach education workshops organised during the World Championships for Artistic Gymnastics and for Trampoline Gymnastics.