###### Abstract  
In the long-term performance development of rhythmic gymnasts aged 16-17, athletes enter a high-performance training phase, marked by increased training loads and preparation for international competitions. This study aimed to (1) provide an overview of methods used to capture external and internal training/competition loads in elite rhythmic gymnasts, and (2) identify measurements of external and internal training/competition loads and their responses during monitored periods. Conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, the systematic review included 6 studies out of the 815 initially identified. The most common methods for calculating external training load were hours or minutes per week. Internal measures varied and included objective methods such as heart rate monitoring and biochemical, hormonal, and hematological assessments from saliva and blood samples. Among subjective methods, session-RPE was most frequently used, along with other questionnaires examining recovery, well-being, sleep, and competition anxiety. The analyzed studies integrated diverse external and internal training load variables, delving into their impact on athlete's biochemical parameters, recovery, and well-being. Pre-competitive and competitive training periods were the focal points of measuring loads. The complex training structure of rhythmic gymnastics can complicate the calculation of training loads. Therefore, more studies are needed to explore the dose-response relationships between training load and training adaptations, fatigue, and recovery. high performance; female athletes; external load; internal load +
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discipline, level of competition, and individual athlete conditions. For instance, in rhythmic gymnastics features eight distinct training periods, including three competitive periods [5]. The main alternative models offer reverse periodization featuring low volume high intensity training in preparatory period, and increase of volume with intensity maintained in competition period [6], and the block periodized model including training cycles of highly concentrated specialized workloads [7]. Athletes competing in multiple events throughout the year benefit from developing several performance peaks during the season and the number of competitions per season depends on the adopted competition strategy [8]. Scientists have described the concept of training load by categorizing it into external and internal components [9]. External load refers to quantifying the work performed by an athlete as outlined in the training plan, encompassing volume (training/competition time), frequency (sessions or competitions per day/week/month) and intensity (training mode) [9]. Internal load, on the other hand, pertains to the individual athlete's psychophysiological response. This response can be measured subjectively using tools like the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), session RPE (s-RPE), wellness questionnaires, and psychological inventories, or objectively through metrics such as heart-rate indices, oxygen uptake, blood lactate, biochemical/hematological assessments during exercise or training sessions [9]. The choice of method for measuring training loads depends on the specific sports discipline and the type of effort involved (strength, speed, endurance) [10]. In aesthetic sports like gymnastics or acrobatics, physical preparation determines the quality of technical elements judged, thus the number of elements of a given difficulty and type, or the time spent performing them in intensity zones related to energy sources, will influence the calculation of training load [10; 11]. Combining internal and external load measures provides valuable insights into how an athlete copes with tasks included in the training plan [12; 13]. Effective management and monitoring of loads are essential to assess the athletes' adaptation to acute and chronic training outcomes and optimize performance [14; 15].