Hoop Dance in the Olympics

You can see Olympic “hula hooping” under the category of “Rhythmic Gymnastics.” Add more dance, flair and a flow prop like the hoop (also ball, ribbon, & clubs) to the tumbling, flexibility and strength of “artistic” gymnastics. Then take away the various apparatus (balance beam, uneven bars, vault) and compiled it all in a floor routine (with one gymnast or other team mates performing all at once)–and well, you’d have this hybrid sport worthy of the 5 famous Olympic rings.

Want to see some extreme flexibility? This is definitely your “pull up a chair and be awe-inspired” time. These gals train on an average 6-8 hours every day (sorry, no boys category just yet).

Representing theUnited States in Rhythmic gymnastics are Laura Zeng, Kristen Shaldybin, Monica Rokhman, Alisa Kano and Kiana Eide. This is only the 2nd time the U.S. has qualified for the team all around competition–quite an honor when you see how talented the whole field is!

Here’s a sneak peak at our team in action.

Here’s the Rhythmic Gymnastics schedule so you can set your dvr and absorb every ounce of NBC/Universal/Comcast television coverage. (They may Live-stream more online/or via the app–check your local listings). All competition held at the Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Jenaro in Brazil. Air times* below are listed in MST (Mountain Standard Time)
*Make SURE you check your own local listings! Event schedules do get shifted around and so do the times they are presented. (I already found some time differences with our local cable provider. Viewer TIP Update: Use your mobile device to Live Stream–I was only able to live-stream with the NBC app, because apparently the two companies are in contract disputes, leaving the computer version “not available due to location restrictions or authorization failures.”)
(click here for time zone conversion).
www.nbcolympics.com/live-stream-schedule

Rhythmic gymnasticsWomen’s individual all-around

Qualification 
Rotation One    Fri, Aug 19, 7:20 AM (MST)
Rotation Two    Fri, Aug 19, 8:50 AM (MST)
Rotation Three Fri, Aug 19, 11:50 AM (MST)
Rotation Four   Fri, Aug 19, 1:20 PM (MST)

Final
Rotation One    Sat, Aug 20, 12:20 PM (MST)
Rotation Two    Sat, Aug 20, 12:53 PM (MST)
Rotation Three Sat, Aug 20, 1:26 PM (MST)
Rotation Four   Sat, Aug 20, 1:26 PM (MST)

Women’s Team All-Around

Qualification

All Rotations      Sat, Aug 20, 7:00 AM (MST)

Final
Rotation One     Sun, Aug 21, 8:00 AM (MST)
Rotation Two     Sun, Aug 21, 8:50 AM (MST)
Plus Medal Ceremony following the competition

And for another bit of HOOPING Awesomeness: World respected American hooper, Rachael Lust (of Ohio, USA) in the German commercial promoting the Olympics, of course…but as we all know…hooping in Rio!!! In-Joy! ♥ ☻

~Che’ Rippinger is Hip The Hoopla‘s CHO (Chief Hooping Officer)/Owner/Founder and head humorist, with heart. She’s been hula hooping since 2008 and founded Hip The Hoopla in 2011 – while teaching, performing and making pro custom dance hula hoops. A dancer most of her life (30+years), Che’ has also been a humor writer/columnist, illustrator and cartoonist for The Denver Post and her Touché! Cartoons have been featured in PLAYGIRL Magazine.

Keep up with Hip the Hoopla with news, #Hoopspiration and special offers. Please sign up now for our special e-mails member list: Hip The Hoopla Circle E-mail 

Also, please follow us on Facebook. We’re even on YouTube (with our own channel), Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Yelp, and Instagram.  To contact us for group classes, private coaching, premium service packages, VIP days, events, performances or custom professional dance hoops, please call 303-980-6295, visit www.HipTheHoopla.com or e-mail Che@HipTheHoopla.com. (Please do not add us to call/e-mail lists without permission.)