“Stupid”, “Mother”: Gymnastics Community Divided Over Parkour Getting Mixed with FIG

The gymnastics world can be welcoming and cruel as well, judging after any new move makes it into the routine. Remember Simone Biles’ much celebrated Biles II move? Initially, it garnered a mixed response, as several individuals counted it as the old form of Yurchenko that had been presented in a fresh wrap with zero improvisation. However, Simone Biles proved the absurdity of such logic, as known by all gymnastic enthusiasts. Now, again, a gymnastic performance has come under the scanner for its vividness. 

Stunningly, it has come from someone who was Simone Biles’ opponent in the Rio Olympics. However, the moves have led the gymnasts to a different recognition. But the debate still continues. 

Shang Chunsong continues to add pages to her gymnastics glory book 

In her 28 years of age, Chinese gymnastics great Shang Chunsong is still reminding fans of her best days on the mat. Exemplifying that aura, she won the gold medal in a parkour performance recently in China. In finishing the routines, Shang Chunsong did not give the slightest chance of missing the grabs. Rather, the former Olympic medalist presented a mixed version where parkour steps found the finishing touch from mounting the bars, emulating the bar exercise in gymnastics. In X, a certain post displayed a snippet from that unrivaled performance. But how could something be possible like this? 

However, after Shang Chunsong’s emergence in parkour spots in 2022, this transition has been visible. As per the common notion, the parkour is carried out, barring assistance from any additional equipment. But Shang has changed the form in her schedule, combining gymnastics and parkour in the same routine. 

As per her, the strength and body movement requirements in both athletic sports are the same. Yet, such a logic has proved to be unrealistic to several fans. Whereas others have cheered Shang Chunsong after her bravado on the bars. Here are some reactions to it. 

The gymnastics fans’ community splits over such a showdown

In her reformed parkour performance, Shang Chunsong depended mostly on the FIG routines, in thoroughly dismounting the bars. And such a display came when a less laborious exercise could have been followed on the parkour field. So such a staggering form of athleticism drew the attention in many hues from the fans. A fan handle termed Shang’s entire performance as a form of “mother behaviour”. 

But a contrasting comment could also be found among the reactions. The complexities and reputation of the schedules may have made the entire performance a boring affair. Taming that part, an X handle with ID, @bossofaloft commented, “This is so stupid I could die.”

Soon, several opinions with different logic came to the fore. In her exercise, Shang Chunsong used a hard floor to replace the gymnastics mat to keep a similarity with the actual parkour sport. In a usual gymnastics competition, it could have increased the injury scare. But the Chinese veteran did not care about that part. So, a fan handle quickly pointed out that bravado. ” THE DISMOUNTS ONTO HARD FLOOR????”

Subsequently, opinions were added, flouting the injury-scare part. Rather, a rebuttal came from a fan handle, Markie, that disgusted the forced amalgamation between parkour and gymnastics, as they tweeted,

Furthermore, the fans couldn’t ignore the continuous schedule Shang Chunsong had been performing on the bars, and that too, on hard floors, without shedding much sweat. Paying attention to that, the X-handle Owly etched “mad respect” to such a display of prowess and stated, “Mad respect to anyone doing a FULL IN off of a metal bar with no give” Additionally, the handle posted several proofs backing the ‘subjective’ nature of judging in parkour compared to artistic gymnastics that thoroughly defy that type of system. 

Moreover, in the past as well, the handle had tried to add logic, differentiating the sports from each other. In fact, in the past, FIG had made a proposition to IOC to include parkour as the Olympic sport in the 2020 Tokyo edition. However, at that moment, Parkour Earth, an authority of the sport, ridiculed the entire part, calling the FIG’s activity a’ hostile takeover’. the X-handle, Pamchenkova penned comments, protesting FIG’s handling of the issue.  

For the last several years, this debate has been continuing, showing no signs of stopping. But there remains no question about Shang Chunsong’s ability. Almost every fan cheered her extraordinary authority over the sports, despite taking retirement from her primary sport. Now, as Simone Biles is getting ready to try another Olympic contest, is she keeping tabs on such a development from one of her opponents?