In 1962 the International Gymnastics Federation officially recognized rhythmic gymnastics as a sport. The first Rhythmic World Championships took place in 1963 in Budapest, Hungary, where 28 athletes from 10 European countries competed. The United States sent its first delegation to the Rhythmic World Championships in 1973.

Rhythmic individual all-around competition was added to the Olympic Games in 1984. In 1996, the rhythmic group event was added as a medal sport at the Olympic Games for the first time.

Each movement of a rhythmic gymnastics routine involves a high degree of athletic skill. Physical abilities needed by a rhythmic gymnast include strength, power, flexibility, agility, dexterity and endurance. In the group event, athletes need to develop teamwork, sensitivity, quick adaptation and anticipation, in addition to the aforementioned skills. Because each piece of apparatus is so different in its composition, the athlete must coordinate very difficult body movements with the apparatus elements. The gymnast also needs to make many physical adjustments between each event.