Artistic Gymnastics
The most common type of gymnastics
Floor Exercise- this event combines the artistic grace of ballet and tumbling together to create the floor exercise. On this event, a gymnast preforms on a large springy mat designed for tumbling. Both men and women compete this event and some skills you might see include back handsprings, twists and jumps such as a straddle jump.
Vault- in this event, the athlete will vault off an inclined surface called a table. The competitor starts at a designated spot on the runway and takes off sprinting from his or her starting point. When the athlete reaches the spring board (shown below) they punch off of the springboard and push off their hands and twist or flip or just fly off the vault table out of a front handspring depending on the experience level of the athlete. Vault is preformed by both men and women.
Vault- in this event, the athlete will vault off an inclined surface called a table. The competitor starts at a designated spot on the runway and takes off sprinting from his or her starting point. When the athlete reaches the spring board (shown below) they punch off of the springboard and push off their hands and twist or flip or just fly off the vault table out of a front handspring depending on the experience level of the athlete. Vault is preformed by both men and women.
Pommel Horse- this event is usually known as one of the hardest events and only men compete this event. The pommel horse is basically a long slab of wood usually covered in a leathery pad with two handles sticking out. The competitors swings their legs around apart and together in a circular, flowing motion around the pommel using their hands for support.
Rings- when the athlete competes in this event, they are hosted up to a pair of wooden rings and preform a series of exercises suspended over a mat. Only men compete this event.
Parallel Bars- this event, also competed by men, is preformed on a set of flexible wooden rails parallel to each other. The athlete produces many swinging movements and artfully twists and changes grip on the bar throughout the routine. When the routine ends, the competitor swings off to one side of the bar either flipping or dismounting with another skill based on the experience level of the gymnast.
Horizontal Bar- On the horizontal bar, the competitor preforms a routine on a single steel bar above a floor mat. The routine includes a required continuous swinging motion around the bar, vaulting motions (also around the bar), frequent changes in direction and grip. Once again, this event is only preformed by men.
Uneven Bars- When the gymnast competes this event, they preform it on two highly flexible cylindrical bars. One bar is up much higher then the other one. The height of the taller bar usually depends on the height of the gymnast. In the routine, the athlete swings above and below and to and from both bars preforming different skills. The gymnast ends the routine dismounting and attempting to stick the landing. This is only preformed by women.
Rings- when the athlete competes in this event, they are hosted up to a pair of wooden rings and preform a series of exercises suspended over a mat. Only men compete this event.
Parallel Bars- this event, also competed by men, is preformed on a set of flexible wooden rails parallel to each other. The athlete produces many swinging movements and artfully twists and changes grip on the bar throughout the routine. When the routine ends, the competitor swings off to one side of the bar either flipping or dismounting with another skill based on the experience level of the gymnast.
Horizontal Bar- On the horizontal bar, the competitor preforms a routine on a single steel bar above a floor mat. The routine includes a required continuous swinging motion around the bar, vaulting motions (also around the bar), frequent changes in direction and grip. Once again, this event is only preformed by men.
Uneven Bars- When the gymnast competes this event, they preform it on two highly flexible cylindrical bars. One bar is up much higher then the other one. The height of the taller bar usually depends on the height of the gymnast. In the routine, the athlete swings above and below and to and from both bars preforming different skills. The gymnast ends the routine dismounting and attempting to stick the landing. This is only preformed by women.
Balance Beam- This event, only competed by women, is preformed on a wooden beam that is only about 4 in (10 cm) wide. The gymnast tumbles along the beam adding in dance and posing along the way across the 16 ft long apparatus. The gymnast also includes jumps and turns in the routine.