Watching gymnasts can be mesmerizing. Their strength, balance, and flexibility seem otherworldly to the rest of us.

Now imagine all the challenges of gymnastics but as a performance involving other gymnasts that you have to synchronize your movements with.

We have to admit that a video from the 2010 Acrobatic World Gymnastics Championships (AWGC) was the first time we’d ever seen or heard of “Acro.”

The discipline began in eastern Europe back in the 1950s and was practiced largely in Bulgaria, Poland, and Russia.

The first championships for this sport took place in Moscow back in 1974 and Acro is the only gymnastics discipline performed by a team. Acro gymnasts can enter as a women’s pair, men’s pair, mixed pair, women’s trio, or men’s foursome.

The official website defines Acro as “both a sport and a show”:

“…it is a combination of strength, statics elements such balances and holds, flexibility, dynamism and grace. Accompanied by a musical score, it combines choreography, individual gymnastics elements, tumbling, throws and pyramids using the same floor as in artistic gymnastics.”

While it’s not an Olympic sport (which is why it’s not as well known in the Americas), it has been included in the World Games since 1993 and debuted at the Youth World Olympics in Buenos Aires in 2018.

In this particular performance at the 22nd AWGC Ukrainian competitors, Kateryna Kalyta, Nataliya Vinnyk, and Luliia Odintsova put on an amazing performance that acts as a great introduction to the sport.

And with over 30 million views since it was uploaded in 2011, it’s safe to say that it may be the only Acro many people have ever seen.

While synchronicity is key, the amazing balance maneuvers are where it’s really at.

Think that’s impressive? She goes even further!

Ouch!

Commenters were astounded that the commentators could find anything to criticize about the performance.

“Slightly bent arms, but that’s ok.” WHAT?! She was balancing her whole body on someone’s foot!” joked one viewer.

Despite the eye-popping performance, Team Ukraine placed 3rd after Russia and Great Britain!

“This ranked THIRD?!?!? What did first place do? That whole routine except while on fire?” asked a flummoxed commenter.

Well, not quite, but the YouTuber who uploaded this performance uploaded the first-place show as well and all we can say is – whoa.

Is this girl flying or what?

We’re pretty stunned by the whole sport and can’t even imagine the dedication it takes to get into this kind of shape AND work in a team to pull off these moves.

Gymnasts are required to complete three routines, the final of which includes all elements in under 2 minutes and 30 seconds. These include complex holds lasting for 3 seconds, throws and catches involving somersaults and twists, tumbling, and perfectly synchronized choreography.

Scores are determined by a panel of judges who grade them on execution, artistic merit, and the difficultly of the maneuvers they perform.

While the 2020 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships have been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event has been rescheduled for June 7 to 20, 2021. If all goes well, they expect 1,000 athletes from 40 countries and over 20,000 spectators.

If you’d like to see more of this amazing sport, be sure to scroll down below for the viral video.

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Source: YouTube – Brian Kincher, Official Website – Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships 2020