Animated 3D video app helps gymnasts

Developed by Cardiff born ex-international Welsh gymnast Kris Horrigan and fellow Director Fabien Bougas, an ex-international French gymnast, 3D Gym MEN and 3D Gym WOMEN are fully animated 3D video apps designed to help gymnasts and coaches understand every gymnastic element in detail.

3D Gym MEN has over 800 elements on the app and 3D Gym WOMEN has over 650 elements. The technology illustrates the accurate positions and angles of the body needed to perform the elements with an ideal technique. This helps dissect and visualise every stage of the gymnastic elements in depth, which will also support with judging in top level competitive competitions.

Over seven years research and development found that the gymnastic industry was lacking the technology and tools to help develop the sport and aid participants with the same technical support as other sports. Not just targeting the elite performers and clubs, FB Curves 3D Gym have concentrated on also making these products available to all levels of gymnasts, coaches, teachers or clubs.

The concept had never been introduced into gymnastics until Kris and Fabien developed it. They worked with many Olympic and world gymnasts, international coaches and judges, seeking advice and trialling the app with and the consensus from professionals was that the product was worth the financial investment and would add value to the sport.

Horrigan said: “A lot of time and research has gone into this product to ensure there was a market for it in the world of gymnastics. This will benefit gymnasts, coaches, judges, circus artists , free runners and parkour performers. It will also be used as an educational tool in schools, colleges and universities as technical accuracy support in the learning of and performing of gymnastic elements.

This is a first in the gymnastics word on a global scale, no other product like this exists. We are really excited to help develop this sport in terms of technical support to help with accuracy on technical ability. At present we have 5,000 paying users and 125,000 downloads of the free version of the app across 100 countries over the world.”

Nile Wilson, GB squad, Commonwealth Medallist and Olympic medallist is an ambassador of the company and is part of the business team helping to grow the business in the gymnastic community.

Wilson added: “I am so excited to be involved in the adventure with FB Curves 3D Gym. I feel what has been created is game changing for our sport and it is the future of learning.”

FB Curves is affiliated with a number of federations including, Welsh Gymnastics, French Gymnastics Federation and is currently making plans to work with UEG (European Union of Gymnastics) who stated they ‘fully support FB Curves 3D Gym for their support and services to the development of the sport’.

The next stage in developing the business is networking across the wider gymnastics community including arenas, competitions, seminars and lectures.