La Gymnaste, Bronze statue in Lausanne, Switzerland

La Gymnaste is a bronze statue of a young gymnast balancing on a wooden beam, located in the park of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. The figure stands with arms raised and legs apart, mounted on a Jarrah wood beam supported by metal trestles, set on a grassy lawn.

John Robinson created the original Gymnast in 1982 for the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. The Lausanne version was cast in 1993 and donated by the Australian National Olympic Committee.

The sculpture shows a gymnast on the balance beam, a common sight in the park that celebrates Olympic sports. Visitors often stop to take photos, and the pose captures a moment of concentration typical of gymnastics.

The statue is outdoors in the museum park, so you can visit it at any time without a ticket. It stands near the athletics track, a short walk from the museum entrance, and the flat paths make it easy to reach.

The beam is made of Jarrah, an Australian wood, and the statue is a limited edition cast, with this one being number 6 of 9. The sculpture weighs 750 kg, making it a substantial piece despite its delicate appearance.