While the Olympics are often a good time to get overly invested in a new, bizarre sport, the major events are not to be missed either. When is gymnastics in the 2016 Rio Olympics? Since there are so many events in this sport, you can catch some flipping and flying on pretty much every day during the games.
Note: all of the dates that I am listing are based on NBC's Olympic livestream calendar. If you are watching on another network or in another country, check the official Rio Olympics schedule — which allows you to adjust to your own time zone. Men's and women's podium training actually takes place before the Rio Opening Ceremony, at various times on August 3 and 4 respectively, but that's only for the more hardcore fans.
Then, men's qualifications are Saturday, August 6 at 9:30 a.m. EST, 1:30 p.m. EST, and 5:30 p.m. EST with the ladies following on Day 3, August 7 at 8:45 a.m. EST, 1:30 p.m. EST, 4:30 p.m. EST, and 7:30 p.m. EST. Then, the first week kicks off with team competitions for the men and women and best all around competitions for the men and women from Monday-Thursday at 3:00 p.m. EST every day, with no gymnastics events on Friday, or Saturday.
Week 2 is where we get into the individual events, my personal favorite as a spectator. All of these events will be at 1:00 p.m. EST on their respective day. On Sunday, August 14, you can see men's floor routines, the women's vaulting competition, men's pommel horse, and uneven bars from the women. Then on Monday, August 15, they'll do men's rings, women's balance beam, and the men's vaulting competition. Tuesday, August 16 switches it up again with men's parallel bars, men's high bar, and the women's floor routines. Then, that's it! The gymnastics gala is on Wednesday, August 17 at 10:00 a.m. EST and 2:00 p.m. EST, marking the end of what should prove to be an exhaustive and exciting competition.
To recap, for those who only want to tune into the most exciting competitions, gymnastics medal events/ceremonies will be on the following dates:
- Monday, August 8, 3:00 p.m. EST — Men's Team Final
- Tuesday, August 9, 3:00 p.m. EST — Women's Team Final
- Wednesday, August 10, 3:00 p.m. EST — Men's All-Around Final
- Thursday, August 11, 3:00 p.m. EST — Women's All-Around Final
- Sunday, August 14, 1:00 p.m. EST — Men's Floor, Women's Vault, Men's Pommel Horse, Women's Uneven Bars
- Monday, August 15, 1:00 p.m. EST — Men's Rings, Women's Balance Beam, Men's Vault
- Tuesday, August 16, 1:00 p.m. EST — Men's Parallel Bars, Women's Floor, Men's High Bar
After that, rhythmic gymnastics moves in on the last three days of competition starting Friday, August 19, with medal events on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21. Basically, it's impossible to miss gymnastics at the Olympics, and why would you want to? Go Team USA!
Image: Giphy
