Apparatus
Introduction
Floor Exercise features tumbling and other acrobatic elements on a specially created Floor Exercise mat. Pommel Horse requires gymnasts to show circles, flairs and other swinging elements above the horse. The Still Rings is a test of endurance and strength, withe gymnasts supporting themselves and performing complex holds with their arms. Vault, one of two power events along with Floor Exercise, is the fastest event and features a gymnast propelling themselves over a vaulting table at full sprint. Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bar are both swinging events with frequent releases and a big dismount.
About Men's Artistic
Floor Exercise
The basics
The floor mat measures 12 x 12 meters with an additional 1m safety border at its edge.
The specifics
The Floor Exercise combines the dynamic tumbling and non-acrobatic elements that show off the gymnast’s strength, balance and flexibility with style. Tumbling must be both backward and forward in direction, and will consist of both flipping and twisting. The entire floor area should be used during the routine, which should not exceed 70 seconds.
Pommel Horse
The basics
The pommel horse is 115 cm in height, 135 cm in width, 160 cm long and its two pommels are set 40 cm apart.
The specifics
Only the hands are allowed to touch the apparatus during Pommel Horse routines, which consist of gymnasts moving their body above and around the apparatus, swinging their body in circles and performing scissor elements and thrilling flairs. Gymnasts must always show straight legs and fully extended bodies, with their hips lifted as high as possible above the apparatus.
Still Rings
The basics
Two rings 18 cm in diameter and 50 cm apart are suspended 2.8 m above the floor.
The specifics
Strength is the key to a good routine on Still Rings, on which a gymnast performing on two rings hanging nearly 3 meters above the mat. Still Rings routines consists of a series of strength holds and handstands – both of which must be held a minimum of two seconds – and swinging elements between the rings, with the gymnast moving smoothly from one element to the next before a high-flying dismount. The Still Rings are the only event in which a gymnast never loses their touch with the apparatus before the dismount
Vault
The basics
The vaulting table is 1.20 meters in length and 95 cm in width. The runway is 25 meters in length and 1 meter wide.
The specifics
The fastest apparatus, Vault consists of the gymnasts running at full speed onto the springboard to make impact with the table with their hands, propelling themselves up into the air and over the table before landing back on their feet. The more flips and twists a gymnast can manage before his feet hit the mat, the more difficult the vault and the higher the score will be. Judges are looking for impressive height and distance from the vault table, and, with only one element being judged, a stuck landing.
Parallel Bars
The basics
The Parallel Bars are 1.95 meters high and 3.50 meters length, set approximately .5 meters apart, and can be adjusted in height to suit the gymnast.
The specifics
Timing and balance are critical for a good routine on Parallel Bars, with a gymnast showing a variety of swinging elements and flight elements from a support, hang and upper arm position. The routine should flow smoothly from one element to the next, and the gymnasts should show perfectly straight handstands. The most difficult routines will contain thrilling skills such as a double saltos between the bars and dismounts with half- and full twists.
Horizontal Bar
The basics
The Horizontal Bar is 2.75 meters high, 2.4 meters wide and the bar is 2.8 cm in diameter.
The specifics
The high-flying Horizontal Bar is one of the most spectacular of the all the events, with gymnasts performing swings and release moves before the all-important dismount. Gymnasts are required to completely release and re-grasp the bar at least once, and the best in the world will string together a series of thrilling release moves in a row.
