Apparatus & Injury
Vault
Vault is an event competed by both male and female gymnasts. The apparatus is composed of a slightly padded runway with a max length of 82 feet, a springboard with a maximum of 9 springs, a table to block off of with your hands and multiple mats to land on (FIG). A person performs a vault by sprinting down the runway, hurdling to a punch or round-off onto the springboard, blocking off the table with two hands then flipping, twisting, or both to a landing on their feet on the mat. Vault is an event of power and timing.
Uneven Bars
Uneven bars is an event only competed in women’s gymnastics. The apparatus is composed of two 7.9 feet long and 4 cm in diameter fiberglass bars with a wood coating of that are suspended in the air at 5.6 feet and 8.2 feet by a steel frame and cables. Bars is an event of timing, shaping, and intense core and shoulder strength.
Balance Beam
The balance beam is an event only competed in women’s artistic gymnastics. The actual apparatus is a slightly padded and spring loaded, suede covered beam that is 3.9 inches wide, 16 feet long, and rose up on steel legs anywhere from 3.3 feet to 4.1 feet off the ground (FIG). By many gymnasts, beam, as it is nick named, is often regarded as the most difficult of the four events.
Floor Exercise
The floor exercise is an event competed by both men and women. It is a 40 foot by 40 foot carpet covered, spring loaded, plywood with foam on top. Floor is an event of power, grace, expression, and air awareness.