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„The international Acrobatics community needs a platform!

Through the IAF, we strive to build a strong global network to elevate our sport to Olympic Heights!“

Jan-Hendrick Goldbeck,

Founder International Acro Foundation

IAF International ACRO Foundation

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Our

commitment to ACRO

Our vision isn’t just a dream: it’s a future we can create together.

The International Acro Foundation (IAF)

invites you to join a global movement dedicated to making Acrobatic Gymnastics an Olympic discipline.

The International Acro Foundation was formed to help Acrobatic Gymnastics gain recognition on the world’s biggest sports stage: the Olympic Games.

Imagine our athletes representing their countries, inspiring millions with performances that blend artistry, strength, and teamwork. That’s  the future we’re working towards

Elevating Acrobatic Gymnastics to New Heights.

Join the global movement to promote Acro and achieve Olympic recognition for the sport. Be part of the change.

Our ACRO Goal

We’re not just building a foundation, we’re building a Global Community.

Our mission is to unite Acro enthusiasts, athletes, and supporters worldwide to:

  • Pursue Olympic Inclusion: Acrobatic Gymnastics as an Olympic sport.

  • Increase Visibility: Launch campaigns that shine a light on Acro’s unique appeal.

  • Foster Collaboration: Encourage international partnerships and support for competitions.

Building a Global Acro Community

We are more than a foundation; we are a global movement. By bringing together Acro enthusiasts, athletes, coaches, and supporters from around the world, we aim to elevate Acro to Olympic status, creating opportunities for growth, competition, and recognition along the way.

Key Goals:

  • Olympic Aspiration: Securing Acro’s place in the program of the Olympic games.

  • Raising Awareness: Bringing Acro into the spotlight through strategic campaigns.

  • Strengthening the Community: Promoting international exchanges and supporting global competitions.

NEWS

A Spectacular Start to the
2025 World Cup Series

Last weekend, the 2025 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cup Series commenced in the small Belgian town of Puurs, nestled between Brussels and Antwerp.

Twelve nations gathered to compete in the first World Cup of the cycle and showcase how they began the new year. In addition to the familiar faces from Europe, the United States was well-represented with a sizeable delegation, participating both in the World Cup and the simultaneously held Flanders International Acro Cup (FIAC).

After a voluntary training session on Wednesday for the teams that had already arrived, podium training began on Thursday. Each nation was allocated a specific time slot to familiarize themselves with the arena and the competition floor, using this "dress rehearsal" to fine-tune their elements before the competition officially began on Friday. From 3:30 PM onward, the senior athletes of the World Cup were asked to vacate the floor, as the doors to the venue opened to welcome teams, athletes, and spectators of the FIAC.

Friday marked the official start of the competition: the judges' meeting began at 5:15 PM, followed by the procession of judges and nations at 5:50 PM. At precisely 6:00 PM, the first team stepped onto the floor, with the women’s pairs opening the competition. Right away, there was a notable highlight: of the seven pairs, three hailed from the United States, with one of these pairs making their debut in the senior category – Sydney Padios and Willow Noble, who had been crowned Junior World Champions at the 2024 Junior and Youth World Championships in Portugal. All the women’s pairs impressed with phenomenal elements, impressive difficulty, and expressive choreography. In the end, the reigning World Champions from Belgium, Maysae Bouhouch and Silke Macharis, triumphed on home soil, convincing the judges with a flawlessly executed final routine. They took the gold medal at the first World Cup of 2025 in Puurs. The US pair of Maya Lissenkova and Katherine Borcherding claimed the silver, with the commentator revealing that the two women had been performing together for over a decade. This vast experience and synchronization paid off, earning them the second-place finish. The Portuguese pair secured the bronze medal.

Next came the mixed pairs. In the dynamic routine, the mixed pair from Ukraine and the pair from Azerbaijan battled neck and neck for the top spots. The same spectacle of elite acrobatics had been witnessed at the World Championships in Portugal, and this time, Ukraine narrowly emerged on top by just 0.13 points. The German mixed pair followed closely in third with an equally impressive performance. Despite some less-than-perfect balance routines, where a few wobbles were visible, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Germany, along with pairs from Portugal, France, Austria, and Poland, all advanced to the final. In the combined routine, as in qualification, the Ukrainian pair dominated, earning the highest score of the entire competition. The final rankings shifted slightly, with Germany securing silver and Portugal claiming bronze.

The men's pairs field was the second smallest, after the men’s groups, but the quality of their performances was undeniably top-tier. The Spanish men, who had won medals at the previous World Championships – marking Spain’s first-ever world championship medal in acrobatic gymnastics – demonstrated once again that they are contenders for the world’s best. With energetic choreography and flawlessly executed elements, they fought for the silver medal and second place on the podium. Portugal rounded out the top three, with the two partners – notably the same height – proving that with excellent technical training, even physical challenges can be easily overcome. The gold medal went to the United States, with the Ossolodkov brothers making their senior debut and impressing once again, having shown their promise at last year's Junior World Championships. Their routines combined outstanding technical, artistic, and creative choreography and elements, along with solid difficulty, securing them the top spot.

The women's groups competition was a true test of triumph and defeat, as demonstrated by the Azerbaijani trio. On the second day of qualification, after an outstanding dynamic routine on day one, they were in first place, only for their balance routine on day two to falter, with two unfortunate falls preventing them from advancing to the final. The French athletes, however, surprised everyone with their solid routines and strong artistry, claiming the bronze medal. The Netherlands secured second place, and the Portuguese trio, comprising Ema Fernandes, Alicia Santos, and Leonor Carreira, took home the gold.

Lastly, on every World Cup day, the men's groups took to the floor. As usual, all four teams displayed breathtaking elements and body control at the highest level. Dynamic elements soared four to five meters into the air, while balance elements were held at the same impressive height – a spectacle for every viewer. In the end, the Belgian hosts secured third place, Germany took silver, and the Portuguese men claimed the World Cup victory with a narrow half-point lead over the second-place finishers.

Looking at the competition from a team perspective, one notable observation stands out: Portugal entered five disciplines and came away with five medals. According to the medal table, Portugal dominated the World Cup in Puurs.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the participants. We hope everyone is satisfied with their performances and wish them continued success in their training.

We look forward to seeing another strong field of competitors, breathtaking performances, and razor-thin decisions at the next World Cup in Burgas (BUL).

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Facts & Figures

Participation at the 3 Continental Championships

(Age groups + Juniors + Seniors)

  • Europe: 33 Countries and 498 participants

  • Asia: 5 Countries and 170 participant

  • Pagu: 6 countries and 79 participants

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Elegance

An acrobatic gymnastics routine is not only a display of physical strength and skill but also a performance of elegance and artistry.

The seamless blend of graceful movements, fluid transitions, and complex stunts creates a captivating visual spectacle. Athletes must harmonize their motions with precision and poise, turning dynamic lifts and balances into fluid, dance-like expressions.

Choreography, set to music, highlights their artistry, where every pose and movement reflects beauty and control.

The balance between power and grace is what makes acrobatic routines both thrilling and artistically mesmerizing.

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Drive & Dependency

Teams can only thrive when all these abilities are fully developed:

  • Strength: Bases need powerful muscles to lift and support, while tops must be both strong and highly flexible.

  • Balance: Exceptional balance is essential for both bases and tops to maintain stability during both static holds and dynamic routines.

  • Coordination: Precise timing and coordination are vital for synchronized movements and the safe execution of routines.

  • Agility: Quick reflexes and agility are key for smooth transitions and the performance of complex dynamic sequences.

  • Trust & Responsibility: Teams depend on mutual trust to execute each move safely. Bases, in particular, carry the responsibility for ensuring the tops’ safety.

ACRO Foundation
Jan-Hendrick Goldbeck, Founder IAF

Jan-Hendrick Goldbeck

„The international Acrobatics community

needs a platform!

Through the IAF, we strive to build a strong global network

to elevate our sport to

Olympic Heights!“

Founder IAF

Rosy Taeymans, President F.I.G. Acrobatic Gymnastics TC

Chairwomen
Rosy Taeymans

"The IAF can help us to introduce  

ACRO (Acrobatic Gymnastics) to possible stake holders,

to increase our visibility on the continents outside Europe

and to introduce ACRO to major international sports organisations.

In other words to help us to increase our visibilty around the world and to bring us closer to our dream - on the road to the Olympics"

Former President 

F.I.G. Acrobatic 

Gymnastics TC

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Ambassador
Carine Charlier

“  I am convinced the Acrobatic Foundation is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the magic of our beautiful sport and strengthen the discipline worldwide.

I feel essential to be part of this movement, together with all

Acrobatic actors – gymnasts, coaches, judges, fans, …-  

 to imagine and build the future of Acrobatics following our Olympic Dream and to make our sport known beyond the gymnastics community ”

President of Acrobatic Gymnastics TC European Gymnastics

Oliver Stegemann, President of the German Acrobatics Gymnastics Federation

Ambassaor
Oliver Stegemann

"The international Acro Foundation wants to develop acrobatics into an

Olympic Sport

by helping the national Acrobatics Federations to reach their potential.

With the IAF we can get better as national federations and join forces

to reach our goal:

going to the Olympics!"

President of the

German Acrobatics Gymnastics Federation

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Ambassador
Igor Blintsov

"The International Acro Foundation gives us opportunities to promote

Acrobatic Gymnastics to new audiences,

allows us to play around with new team variations and connect

all enthusiasts and supporters of our wonderful sport.

It can become a laboratory working in all different areas to make our

sport better, nicer and future-proof.“

Head Coach German National Team Acrobatic Gymnastics

Team and Supporters

Ready to Make History with Us?

The journey to Olympic recognition for

 

ACRO

begins with you.

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or passionate supporter, there’s a place for you in our movement.

The journey to Olympic recognition for Acro is just beginning, and we need your help to make it a success.  There’s a place for you in the
International
Acro Foundation (IAF).
Join our movement, contribute your expertise, or support us financially
every bit helps.
Stay connected by subscribing to our newsletter,
where you’ll receive updates on our progress and upcoming initiatives.

Join us and help make Acro’s Olympic dream

a reality.

 
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Contact the ACRO Foundation

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