Somersault: An acrobatic movement, either forward or backward, in which the body rolls end over end.
On Thursday in Rice Park in St. Paul, nearly 350 people simultaneously performed the move and set the world record for the most somersaults performed at one time.
To promote the 2011 Visa Championships in gymnastics taking place next week, KARE-TV's "Record Wreckers," USA Gymnastics and the Xcel Energy Center partnered to host the event. Mayor Chris Coleman also showed up.
"We had a great turnout; we didn't know what to expect," said Julia Thompson, TAGS Gymnastics school co-owner and volunteer coordinator for the Visa Championships. "We have so much positive energy for gymnastics in our state."
Two-time Olympian and gold medal gymnast Kerri Strug also spoke at the event and was excited to see all the smiling faces on hand to promote the upcoming national championships at Xcel.
"I think it's always good to spread the excitement of the sport of gymnastics," Strug said. "Not everybody is going to be an Olympian, but everybody can take part in their own way."
Downtown St .Paul co-workers Margot Zweber, Stephanie Madden, Amanda Pasek and Pat Lealos were more than willing to join in, joking and laughing with other attendees as they took part in somersaulting on mats and blankets.
Even though members of the group had trouble actually completing the skill - Pasek joked that she more barrell-rolled - they were excited to help promote gymnastics.
"We travel around the world doing somersaults," Zweber fibbed. "We are really here to support St. Paul and events involved with the Visa Championships."
The unofficial number of people taking part in the record was 345, but there were closer to 500 who showed up to support USA Gymnastics and get the chance to meet Strug, including a group from the New Hope Tumblers gymnastics club.
"Not many people can say they were part of a world record," said McKenzie Cohn, a 14-year old gymnast at the club. "It was awesome, special."
"It was amazing...we got to be part of something cool," fellow gymnast Hannah Schulz, 14, added.
About 90 members of TAGS Gymnastics did demonstrations at the event before and after the record was set. The University of Minnesota men's and women's gymnastics teams were also there, hosting a workout session at 5 p.m.
The attempt to set the record for somersaults - in a new category being submitted to Guinness World Records - was just one of the many fan-friendly activities going on in conjunction with the Visa Championships.
During the four-day event, there will be afternoon painting in Rice Park and morning exercises led by former national team gymnasts.
"It's a celebration of mental and physical health,"
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