Editing Gymnastics (section)

====Competitive events for women in artistic gymnastics====
[[File:PIked Tsukahara L9 Reginals.jpg|thumb|upright|Piked [[Tsukahara (vault)|Tsukahara vault]]]]

=====Vault=====
{{Main|Vault (gymnastics)}}
In the vaulting events, gymnasts sprint down a {{convert|25|m|ft}} runway, to take off onto a vault board (or perform a roundoff or handspring entry onto a vault board). They then land momentarily inverted on the hands-on the vaulting horse or vaulting table (pre-flight segment) and propel themselves forward or backward off that platform to a two-footed landing (post-flight segment). The post-flight segment may include one or more saltos, or twisting movements. A round-off entry vault, called a [[Yurchenko (vault)|Yurchenko]], is a commonly performed vault in the higher levels of women's gymnastics. Other vaults include taking off from the vault board with both feet at the same time and either doing a front handspring or round-off onto the vaulting table.

In 2001, the traditional vaulting horse was replaced with a new apparatus, sometimes known as a tongue, horse, or vaulting table. The new apparatus is more stable, wider, and longer than the older vaulting horse, approximately {{Convert|1|m|ft}} in length and {{Convert|1|m|ft}} in width, giving gymnasts a larger blocking surface. This apparatus is thus considered safer than the vaulting horse used in the past. With the addition of this new, safer vaulting table, gymnasts are attempting more difficult vaults.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vault: Everything You Need to know about Vault |work=About.com Sports |url=http://gymnastics.about.com/od/gymnasticsapparatus/p/watchingvault.htm |access-date=4 October 2009 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413034433/http://gymnastics.about.com/od/gymnasticsapparatus/p/watchingvault.htm }}</ref>

[[File:Skubik on Uneven Bars 2006.JPG|thumb|Gymnast on uneven bars]]

=====Uneven bars=====
{{Main|Uneven bars}}
On the uneven bars, gymnasts perform a timed routine on two parallel horizontal bars set at different heights. These bars are made of [[fiberglass]] covered in wood [[laminate]] to prevent them from breaking. In the past, bars were made of wood, but the bars were prone to breaking, providing an incentive to switch to newer technologies. The height of the bars may be adjusted by {{Convert|5|cm|in}} to the size needed by individual gymnasts, although the distance between bars cannot be changed for individual gymnasts in elite competition. 

In the past, the uneven parallel bars were closer together. The bars have been moved increasingly further apart, allowing gymnasts to perform swinging, circling, transitional, and release moves that may pass over, under, and between the two bars. At the elite level, movements must pass through the handstand. Gymnasts often mount the uneven bars using a [[Springboard (gymnastics)|springboard]] or a small mat, and they may use [[MgCO3|chalk (MgCO<sub>3</sub>)]] and [[Grip (gymnastics)|grips]] (a leather strip with holes for fingers to protect hands and improve performance) when performing this event. The chalk helps take the moisture out of gymnasts' hands to decrease friction and prevent rips (tears to the skin of the hands); dowel grips help gymnasts grip the bar.

=====Balance beam=====
[[File:Dorina Böczögő, balance beam, 2013.jpg|thumb|[[Dorina Böczögő]] performing a one-arm press hold during her balance beam mount, 2013]]
{{Main|Balance beam}}
The gymnast performs a choreographed routine of up to 90 seconds in length consisting of leaps, acrobatic skills, somersaults, turns, and dance elements on a padded beam. The beam is {{convert|125|cm|ftin}} above the ground, {{convert|5|m|ftin}} long, and {{convert|10.16|cm|in}} wide.<ref name=dimensions>{{cite web |title=Apparatus Norms |url=http://figdocs.lx2.sportcentric.com/external/serve.php?document=1540 |publisher=[[Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique|FIG]] |page=II/51 |access-date=4 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219195725/http://figdocs.lx2.sportcentric.com/external/serve.php?document=1540 |archive-date=19 December 2011}}</ref> It can also be adjusted, to be raised higher or lower.

=====Floor=====
[[File: Double ring leap.jpg|thumb|upright|Gymnast doing a stag leap on floor exercise]]
{{Main|Floor (gymnastics)}}
The event in gymnastics performed on the floor is called floor exercise. In the past, the floor exercise event was executed on the bare floor or mats such as wrestling mats. The floor event now occurs on a carpeted {{Convert|12|m|ft}} x {{Convert|12|m|ft}} square, usually consisting of hard foam over a layer of [[plywood]], which is supported by springs generally called a spring floor. This provides a firm surface that provides extra bounce or spring when compressed, allowing gymnasts to achieve greater height and a softer landing after the composed skill. Gymnasts perform a choreographed routine to music (without words) for up to 90 seconds. The routine should consist of tumbling passes, series of jumps, leaps, dance elements, acrobatic skills, and turns, or pivots, on one foot. A gymnast can perform up to four tumbling passes, each of which usually includes at least one flight element without hand support.<ref>{{cite web |title=WAG Code of Points 2009–2012 |url=http://figdocs.lx2.sportcentric.com/external/serve.php?document=1258 |publisher=[[Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique|FIG]] |page=29 |access-date=2 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219204732/http://figdocs.lx2.sportcentric.com/external/serve.php?document=1258 |archive-date=19 December 2011}}</ref>