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Artistic gymnastics apparatus

Uneven bars

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

Young gymnasts line up for their uneven bars practice session.

What Are Uneven Bars?

Uneven bars are special equipment used in artistic gymnastics. They have two bars made of fiberglass or wood that are different heights. Gymnasts move smoothly from one bar to the other, doing flips and swings. It takes a lot of strength and balance to do well on the uneven bars.

Gymnasts often put white chalk on their hands to help them grip the bars better. Watching someone perform on the uneven bars is exciting and fun at gymnastics competitions!

How Are Uneven Bars Made?

The uneven bars are built on a steel frame. Gyms set them up over soft foam pits or mats to help athletes learn new skills safely. The high bar is very tall, and the low bar is shorter. Each bar is just a little wider than a pencil and long enough for gymnasts to swing all the way around.

Companies in many countries make and sell these bars for competitions. The rules for the bars are set by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique.

Why Are Uneven Bars Important?

The uneven bars are an important event in women’s artistic gymnastics. Many talented gymnasts from all over the world have won big prizes, like Olympic gold medals, on the uneven bars. They swing, flip, and move between the two bars, showing skill, strength, and grace. Their wonderful performances inspire young gymnasts everywhere to practice and try new moves too.

Images

Gymnast Berta Pujadas performs a routine on the uneven bars during the 2019 Junior World Championships in Győr, Hungary.
Nastia Liukin competing on the uneven bars at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
A gymnast prepares for her routine on the uneven bars at a French gymnastics competition in 2010.
Qatari gymnast Shaden Wahdan performing a routine on the uneven bars during the Doha Arab Games at ASPIRE Academy.
A gymnast competing on the uneven bars during an international gymnastics event in 2010.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Uneven bars, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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