KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: It is hard to ignore the element of beauty in gymnastics.

In fact, it is one of the pre-conditions before students are accepted by coaches.

Sarina Sundara Rajah said beauty was the first thing a judge would look at as an athlete walked onto the mat.

"Judges look at a gymnast's physical appearance because during competitions, most of them would have acquired the same level of skills.

"A gymnast should be tall, have long limbs, thin and have a good personality." She said facial features of gymnasts were equally important.

"One must have sharp features. Judges look out for those with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes. These are qualities that engage spectators.

"Facial expressions during a performance help gymnasts score points, as judges are able to capture the feel of the performance."

Besides the rigorous training, Sarina said, gymnasts must stick to a strict diet to keep their figure.

Recalling her experience as a national gymnast Sarina said her diet was planned by her coach and she followed it religiously.

"My diet was high in protein. Every day, I drank clear soup, ate chicken, salads and yogurt.

"When I was training in Russia, I was on a liquid diet. I had to drink a concoction of green apples and cucumber." -NST

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