MORE ABOUT WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics is a sport that requires incredible strength and flexibility. Women’s gymnastics is made up of four events: vault, balance beam, floor exercise, and uneven bars.

• Vault — A good vault begins with a strong run. A gymnast must sprint down a runway, jump with either feet or hands onto a springboard, and then push hard off the vault table. The best vaulters are often the strongest. They must have enough power to push high off the table and complete their rotation.

• Balance beam — The balance beam is often considered the most difficult event. Gymnasts must have excellent balance to stay on the four-inch beam. The goal is to perform a routine that makes it seem like the gymnast is on the floor instead of the beam.

• Floor exercise — The floor routine is often most popular, since it reflects a gymnast’s personality. The routine is set to music and must use the entire floor area. Floor exercise uses a spring floor, which lets gymnasts go higher during tumbling passes. The gymnast must use a combination of dance and tumbling elements in her routine.

• Uneven bars — In this event, a gymnast performs a routine on two bars set at different heights. The gymnast swings from one bar to the other while performing handstands, flips, and twists. This requires concentration, coordination, and split-second timing, as well as great upper-body strength. The most difficult elements are release moves, when a gymnast releases one bar and transitions to the other.