Glossary of gymnastics terms

Glossary of Gymnastics Terms

Gymnastics, a sport that demands grace, strength, flexibility, and coordination, has developed a unique vocabulary over the years. This glossary aims to provide definitions for some of the most common terms used in the sport of gymnastics.

A

• All-around: A competition in which gymnasts compete in multiple apparatus, typically including the vault, uneven bars (women), parallel bars (men), balance beam (women), and floor exercise for both men and women. The gymnast with the highest combined score is declared the all-around champion.
• Apparatus: The equipment used in gymnastics competitions. For women, these include the vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor. For men, the apparatus include the floor, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar.

B

• Balance Beam: A women's gymnastics apparatus that is 5 meters long and 10 centimeters wide, elevated about 1.2 meters off the ground. Gymnasts perform a routine that includes jumps, turns, acrobatics, and dance elements.
• Bars: Refers to two different apparatus in gymnastics: the uneven bars, used by female gymnasts, and the parallel bars, used by male gymnasts.

C

• Compulsory Routine: A set routine that all gymnasts must perform, with the execution and artistry being judged. This contrasts with optional routines, where gymnasts perform routines choreographed to their strengths.
• Chalk: Magnesium carbonate used by gymnasts to dry their hands and increase grip on apparatus like the bars, rings, and vault.

D

• Dismount: The act of leaving an apparatus at the end of a routine, often involving a complex and difficult series of movements designed to impress the judges and contribute to the overall score.

E

• Execution: The quality of performance in gymnastic routines, including precision, form, and technique. Execution scores are part of the overall score in a gymnastics competition.

F

• Floor Exercise: An event in both men's and women's gymnastics where routines are performed on a 12x12 meter square mat. Routines typically include tumbling passes, dance elements, and acrobatic skills.

G

• Grips: Leather straps or coverings worn by gymnasts, especially on the uneven bars, parallel bars, and rings, to protect their hands and improve their grip.

H

• Handspring: A vaulting movement where the gymnast springs off the hands after a forward or backward approach, often used in vaulting and on the floor.

I

• Iron Cross: A strength move performed on the rings where the gymnast holds their body horizontally in a cross position, arms extended to the sides.

J

• Judge: An official who scores gymnasts' performances based on difficulty and execution. Judges are present for all competitive gymnastics events.

K

• Kip: A basic skill on bars where the gymnast swings from beneath the bar, kicks up, and pulls their body to a position above the bar.

L

• Layout: A position in tumbling and dismounts where the body is stretched out straight, often used to describe a type of somersault.

M

• Mount: The move used to get onto an apparatus at the beginning of a routine.

N

• No deduction: A term used when a gymnast performs a skill or routine without any errors that would cause the judges to subtract points from the score.

O

• Olympics: The premier international multi-sport event in which gymnastics is a key component. Gymnastics has been part of the Olympic program since the modern Games began in 1896.

P

• Pommel Horse: A men's apparatus featuring a metal frame with a padded top and two pommels (handles) on top. Gymnasts perform a routine consisting of swings, circles, and flairs with their legs while keeping their bodies elevated above the horse.

Q

• Qualification: The process by which gymnasts earn the right to compete in certain competitions, including the Olympics, World Championships, and national championships.

R

• Release Move: A high-risk, high-reward move on the uneven bars, high bar, or rings where the gymnast releases the apparatus, performs a maneuver, and then re-grasps the apparatus.

S

• Salto: A flip or somersault in gymnastics. Saltos can be performed in multiple positions, such as tucked, piked, or layout.

T

• Twist: A rotation of the body around its vertical axis while performing a salto or jump. The number of twists is often specified, such as a "double twist."

U

• Uneven Bars: A women's apparatus consisting of two horizontal bars set at different heights, on which gymnasts perform swinging, circling, transitional, and release moves.

V

• Vault: An apparatus used in both men's and women's gymnastics where gymnasts sprint down a runway, jump onto a springboard, and perform aerial maneuvers off a vaulting table.

W

• Wolf Turn: A difficult balance beam and floor exercise move where the gymnast rotates on one foot with the other leg extended horizontally.

X

(This section intentionally left blank due to the absence of common gymnastics terms starting with X.)

Y

• Yurchenko: A family of vaults where the gymnast performs a round-off onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault, followed by a salto off the vault.

Z

• Zonder: A rare term, sometimes used to describe a specific skill or move unique to an individual gymnast's routine.