Laurita Marconi Schiavon

Panorama da ginástica artística feminina brasileira de alto rendimento esportivo: progressão, realidade e necessidades

Os resultados das atletas brasileiras da Ginastica Artistica feminina nos ultimos 10 anos, refletidos principalmente nas competicoes de nivel internacional, apontam para uma expressiva evolucao do esporte no pais. Assim, este artigo tem o proposito de apresentar dados acerca desta transformacao, principalmente a partir da participacao das ginastas em Jogos Olimpicos (desde 1980), e estabelecer reflexoes em relacao ao desenvolvimento da modalidade no pais. A partir de uma pesquisa bibliografica e documental, estes dados foram obtidos, reunidos e contextualizados com outras informacoes ja disponiveis na literatura. Ao analisa-los foi possivel nao so apontar com especificidade como se deu esta evolucao, como tambem apresentar uma realidade deflagradora de um processo ainda imaturo de desenvolvimento do esporte no pais, que nao condiz em grande parte com o que e posto pela midia (de que a modalidade esta em pleno avanco e de forma estruturada).

Condições dos treinamentos de ginastas brasileiras participantes de jogos olímpicos (1980-2004)

This paper aims to register and analyze the training facilities used by the Brazilian gymnasts who participated in the Olympic Games (1980-2004), in order to reflect upon this aspect of Female Artistic Gymnastics. To achieve this goal, we developed a qualitative research study using the Oral History method. Based on a cross-sectional analysis of the testimonials given by ten gymnasts who took part in this survey, we observed that training facilities have improved since the 90s, when Ucranian coaches were hired, a permanent Brazilian team was established and investments were made on equipment and training facilities. Despite the positive changes we have witnessed in this sport in the past years, all gymnasts who participated in the study reported that they had to practice in inappropriate training facilities at some point.

Knowledge, nutrition and coaching pedagogy: a perspective from female Brazilian Olympic gymnasts

It is acknowledged that knowledge and knowledge bases are an important part of coach and athlete learning and that the coach – athlete relationship is crucial to knowledge created, shared and used. This said knowledge about nutrition as constructed by elite gymnasts would seem particularly important in a culture long associated with weight control practices and disordered eating. This paper provides an insight into the ways that 10 Brazilian Olympic gymnasts construct ideas pertaining to nutritional knowledge across generational periods (between 1980 and 2004) where significant organisational change in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics in Brazil occurred and included the introduction of dieticians. Drawing upon different knowledge types and paying attention to the coaching context, the life histories of 10 Olympic gymnasts were used to open a window on knowledge construction pertaining to nutrition by three generations of gymnasts. The findings draw attention to two main illustrative themes. Firstly, coaches’ personal knowledge, whilst perceived as incomplete by gymnasts, reinforced a narrative of weight loss for gymnasts regardless of generation. Secondly, the younger generations of gymnasts perceived that the introduction of dieticians into structured provision enabled them to use better structured knowledge, and with it a sense of increased autonomy and corporeal learning via the construction of tacit embodied knowledge leading to healthier practices. Reflections are given to the role of the coach, dieticians and pedagogical actions, and the continued reshaping of knowledge in elite gymnastics.