At first it sounds silly. But then, think about it. True Pilates follows a specific order. You have Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Mat Work, Tower Work and Reformer Work. In order to obtain a Pilates certification you need to pass a practical exam, where you follow the specific order, reps, rhythm and form. So, couldn't that be an event? The competing athletes would have to perform the various orders on mat, equipment, etc. Points would be given and deducted based on performance, just like in the test out to become certified.
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| Arabesque II - I give myself the Bronze :) |
I mentioned this idea to my students during class the last couple of weeks. At first they laughed, but once I explained it like I did above, they started to get really excited about the idea. One class brought up that there could be the more strict competition of following specific orders and then also a more "freestyle" competition where the Pilates athletes could add a little modern flair. It would be several days of competition, just like with gymnastics.
It is also very exciting to think about the fact that so many Pilates practitioners are older, especially in Olympic years. In my opinion, men and women in their thirties, forties, all the way through their sixties (or nineties!) are much more advanced in Pilates work than their younger counterparts. How inspiring that a Pilates Olympian could potentially be someone in middle to senior age!
I could really go on and on about the potential of Pilates being an Olympic sport. True, REAL, Pilates would also be shown to the masses, clearing up so much of the misinformation about what Pilates is, and once again showing the genius of the work that Joe and friends cultivated. I love watching people do Pilates. It's beautiful and has such a nice flow to it.
What do you think? I would love to hear your ideas on what Pilates as an Olympic event should look like. Would you watch? Would you train to compete or coach? Do you think it would help or hinder Pilates practice as a whole?
