Apparatus

• Concerning MAG

– The floor exercise
During floor exercise gymnasts have to perform between 50 and 70 seconds. Their exercise must alternate with acrobatics elements and choreography consequently, the result is a perfect mix between spring, strength, flexibility and balance. Contrary to women exercices, men do not perform on music. The floor measures 12×12 m and have a safety border of 1 m. The performance area must have a surface elasticity to allow for power during take-offs and softness for landing.

– Pommel Horse
On this apparatus you have to do a regular and consistent movement on the horizontal plan. That why it is so difficult. Only hands can touch the pommel horse and no rhythm break must happen during the routine. Gymnasts must control their body to execute the chain of elements required in competition.

Height: 1.15 m (from floor)
Length at the top: 1.60 m
Distance between pommels: 40 to 45cm

– Rings
This apparatus is the one where you most need strength. Each routine is a series of swings and holds with both backward and forward elements. Two seconds are required during strength elements to be not penalized. The final of the exercise must be an acrobatic dismount. Currently the trend on this apparatus is to be always stronger because gymnasts do five or six strength elements in their routine at the international level.

Height: 2.75 m (from floor).

– Vault table
After an approach run of 25 m the gymnast leave the nest thanks to a springboard and realizes a powerful movement with one or more rotations and twist. Each element at the vault has a difficulty mark but all of them must finish in a control landing. Element’s diversity has never stopped by the way, gymnast sometimes creates their own element. On the floor there are lines to know exactly the position of the gymnast in relation to the approach run. Speed and power are two component of this apparatus. Info: The vault table officially succeeded the vault table during the 2001 World Championship.

Length of the vaulting table: 1.20 m
Width: 95cm
Height max: 1.35m

– Parallel bars
It is a combination of swinging movements with strength and hold elements. Gymnasts perform along and both above and below the bars. On this apparatus gymnast are always improving the difficulty of the routine, especially the last element. Moreover, elements are more and more close to those that gymnasts do at the horizontal bar.

Height: 2m
Distance between bars: adjustable

– Horizontal bar
At this apparatus gymnasts should perform continuous clean swinging movements. They can work with one arm but their body must never touch the bar. At high level gymnasts do 3 or 4 release and regrasp of the bar sometimes in a row. Dismounts are a huge part of the routine because there are generally really spectacular and acrobatic.

Height: 2,80 m (from the floor)
Width: 2.40m

• Concerning WAG

– Floor exercise
Floor is the flagship apparatus of the WAG because gymnasts jump, dance, fly, and twist with grace and virtuosity. During more than 1.10 minute, gymnasts do their routines on music that are synchronized with the choreography.  Until 1950 there was no music during floor exercise but now we cannot imagine this apparatus without a musical background because it enhances the performance. The routine must not exceed 1.30minute. During these 90 seconds, the gymnast must focus on elegance and must combine dance movements with tumbling and acrobatic elements. The whole floor area should be used during exercise. Rhythm, speed and humour of the program have to change during the routine. Originality, maturity and artistry of presentation are key ingredients for a high score.

– Vault table
Each vault has a value according to its difficulty. To have a high score gymnasts must finish in a controlled position. The score depends of the average of the two vaults performed. The two hands must touch the table before to do the acrobatic element. Dynamism, extension, power and exactness are the components of the success. During the 2001 World Championship a new vault has been used for the first time. It succeeded to the vault horse.

– The balance beam
During more than 70 seconds (the duration is between 70 and 90 seconds) gymnasts have to perform on this apparatus that measure not more than 10cm wide. For balance beam flexibility, balance, rhythm and expression are the keys of a good routine. Concentration and self control are obviously needed on this apparatus. Gymnasts mix between acrobatic elements, jumps, and balance movements. Falls often happen that why It is a fear apparatus by athletes. They have to perform along the whole balance beam. Dismount series of acrobatic elements can be very spectacular.

– Uneven bars
Very spectacular, this apparatus is a mix between strength and exactness. Continuous swinging and giant movement are predominant that why courage is needed. Without stop gymnasts do movement on the two bars in both directions, above and below.  A routine is chain of elements with twist, somersault with multiple grip changes and high flight. Gymnasts cannot do four elements in a row without a bar change. A routine has a minimum of 10 elements and often a spectacular dismount ends the routine.