The Events
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In the sport of gymnastics for women, their are four events, and for men, their are six events. The four events for women are vault, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor. And the six events for men are, Vault, Parallel bars, high bar, pommel horse, floor, and rings.In levels 1-6 gymnasts all compete the same routines, but when they get to lever 7, and above, gymnasts are allowed to create their own routines on each event.
Vault- The vault was originally called a "horse" and was invented by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. The vault has been blamed for many serious accidents over the years. American Julissa Gomez was paralyzed in a vaulting accident and died three years later.
To perform the vault, the gymnast runs down the runway, which is usually padded or carpeted. They then hurdle onto a springboard and spring onto the vault with their hands. If a gymnast was doing something more difficult, such as a yurchenko, they would put their hands on a mat before the springboard, round-off onto the springboard, and do a back handspring onto the vault table.
Vault- The vault was originally called a "horse" and was invented by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. The vault has been blamed for many serious accidents over the years. American Julissa Gomez was paralyzed in a vaulting accident and died three years later.
To perform the vault, the gymnast runs down the runway, which is usually padded or carpeted. They then hurdle onto a springboard and spring onto the vault with their hands. If a gymnast was doing something more difficult, such as a yurchenko, they would put their hands on a mat before the springboard, round-off onto the springboard, and do a back handspring onto the vault table.
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- Beam- The balance beam is 4 inches wide, and about 3ft tall. It is usually covered by a leather like material. The beam is only performed by female gymnasts. On the beam girls perform many spins, flips, and leaps.
- The beam is a very favorable event to watch, but when it comes to most gymnasts, its not their favorite event to perform. For gymnasts it is very difficult to perform such complex skills on such a narrow piece of equipment.
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Bars- The bars are two uneven bars that are made of a steel frame, and they have a fiberglass and wood coating. The bars are placed at different heights to allow gymnasts to jump from bar to bar. In the late 1960's/ early 1970's companies began manufacturing uneven bars as a separate apparatus. They changed the design slightly to allow the bars to be adjustable with tension cables that held the apparatus to the floor. They suggest that with this change, coached should set the bars farther apart.
In the early 1950's the bar routines mostly consisted of kips, static balance elements, and holds. In the late 1950's the routines shifted towards fluid motion, and gymnasts began to perform more difficult circles, and kips. Release moves also started to come into play. As other events in gymnastics increased with difficulty, so did the bars. Gymnasts and coached started experimenting with elements, attempting new, challenging dismounts.
In 1972 Olga Korbut, invented the Korbut flip, and the first high bar salto release move. Nadia Comaneci continued the trend, with her original Comaneci salto at the 1976 Olympics. By the mid 1980's routines had become based on swing and release moves, the bars were then moved even farther apart.
In the early 1950's the bar routines mostly consisted of kips, static balance elements, and holds. In the late 1950's the routines shifted towards fluid motion, and gymnasts began to perform more difficult circles, and kips. Release moves also started to come into play. As other events in gymnastics increased with difficulty, so did the bars. Gymnasts and coached started experimenting with elements, attempting new, challenging dismounts.
In 1972 Olga Korbut, invented the Korbut flip, and the first high bar salto release move. Nadia Comaneci continued the trend, with her original Comaneci salto at the 1976 Olympics. By the mid 1980's routines had become based on swing and release moves, the bars were then moved even farther apart.
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Floor- In gymnastics, the floor, or floor exercise, is a spring floor to provide bounce for the gymnasts. Both male, and female gymnasts compete floor. It wasn't until 1948 that female gymnasts were allowed to compete floor.
The spring floor contains springs/or a rubber foam and plywood combination that makes the floor bouncy, and softens the impact of landings. It also allows gymnasts to gain height while tumbling. The "out of bounds" area on the floor is indicated by a white border of tape. The time limit on the floor for male gymnasts is 70 seconds (one minute and 10 seconds) and for female gymnasts it is 90 seconds (one minute and 30 seconds). On the floor, women always perform a routine to music, men do not.
A floor routine is choreographed and is composed of acrobatic and dance elements. This event allows gymnasts to express their personality through their dance and music selection. The moves in the routine must go along with the music and they must look precise. In the elite level, many gymnasiums hire professional choreographers to choreograph their routines for their gymnasts. Some gymnasts have a new floor routine every year, others keep their routine for several competition seasons. It is uncommon for gymnasts to have more than one routine during the same season, but, it is not prohibited.
The spring floor contains springs/or a rubber foam and plywood combination that makes the floor bouncy, and softens the impact of landings. It also allows gymnasts to gain height while tumbling. The "out of bounds" area on the floor is indicated by a white border of tape. The time limit on the floor for male gymnasts is 70 seconds (one minute and 10 seconds) and for female gymnasts it is 90 seconds (one minute and 30 seconds). On the floor, women always perform a routine to music, men do not.
A floor routine is choreographed and is composed of acrobatic and dance elements. This event allows gymnasts to express their personality through their dance and music selection. The moves in the routine must go along with the music and they must look precise. In the elite level, many gymnasiums hire professional choreographers to choreograph their routines for their gymnasts. Some gymnasts have a new floor routine every year, others keep their routine for several competition seasons. It is uncommon for gymnasts to have more than one routine during the same season, but, it is not prohibited.