Men's gymnastics comes to the forefront of the sporting world every four years at Olympic competitions. Gymnastic events for men and women are among the most popular of Olympic events. During non-Olympic years, national and international competitions attract the top athletes in the sport. These athletes focus on strength, timing, hand-eye coordination and explosive power. There are six events in men's gymnastics competitions.
Floor Exercise
The floor exercise consists of forward and backward tumbling routines that also include bounding, twisting and flips. According to USA Gymnastics, the tumbles in modern competitive events were previously attempted only on trampolines, but athletes have advanced to the point that vaults and jumps can be attempted on the floor. According to NCAA regulations, the mat used for the floor exercise is a 39-foot, 4 1/2-inch square.
Pommel Horse
Many gymnastics coaches and athletes consider the pommel horse to be the most difficult apparatus in the sport. Athletes perform spinning, circular movements on a horizontal plane. This requires great strength because the athlete often has just one arm on the equipment as the other arm is reaching for another spot on the horse. Scissor moves are required elements on the pommel horse. The top of the pommel horse is about 45 inches off the ground.
Still Rings
The still rings is considered one of the primary strength events in men's gymnastics. In this event, the athlete performs moves like the cross, the inverted cross and the Maltese cross while keeping the rings as still as possible. The grip area of the still rings is approximately 102 inches from the top of the mat beneath the rings and the two rings are about 7.1 inches apart.
The Vault
This is one of the most spectacular events in men's gymnastics. The athlete sprints down a runway and uses a springboard to propel himself upward and for great distance. He pushes off another apparatus called a "table" to perform a jumping, twisting exercise. It is approximately 53 inches from the center of the table to the floor.
Horizontal Bar and Parallel Bars
These events combine many of the same elements, involving strength, courage and creativity. On the horizontal bar, the gymnast is expected to perform swings, releases and a high-flying dismount. The horizontal bar is approximately 102 inches from the mats on the floor. The parallel bars routine also involves several swinging movements and the gymnast should not stop more than three times while in the middle of a routine. The parallel bars are roughly 79 inches from the floor to the rails.
Member Comments