Vault (gymnastics)

The vault is an artistic gymnastics maneuver typically performed on a pommel horse or a vaulting table. It is one of the events where both male and female gymnasts show their skills. In gymnastics scoring, the short form for this event is VT.

Doing a vault needs a lot of strength, speed, and skill. Gymnasts sprint down a small lane and then jump onto the apparatus. From there, they twist, turn, and flip in the air before landing safely on a mat.

The vault is exciting to watch because it happens very fast, and the athletes must perform many moves in just a few seconds. It is a test of courage and precision, making it a favorite part of gymnastics competitions.

The apparatus

The vault is a gymnastics move performed on a special piece of equipment. Long ago, gymnasts used a wooden "horse" for vaulting, similar to the pommel horse but without handles. Men and women both used this apparatus for over a hundred years in the Olympics, starting from the Men's vault in the first modern Olympics.

Because of some safety concerns and to allow for more exciting flips and twists, the vaulting equipment was changed. Today, gymnasts use a "vaulting table," which has a soft, padded surface that slopes down. This new apparatus was first used in big international competitions in 2001 and is safer and better for performing complex moves.

The vaulting table has specific sizes: it is about 120 cm long and 90 cm wide. For men, it is 135 cm high, while for women, it is 125 cm high. There is also a long run-up area for gymnasts to sprint before they vault.

Vault as gymnastic skill

To perform a vault, the gymnast runs down a padded runway and jumps onto a springboard. They then spring onto the vaulting table, often doing flips and twists in the air before landing safely on a mat. The way they prepare for the vault can vary; for example, in Yurchenko-style vaults, they place their hands on a mat before the springboard, round off, and then do a back handspring onto the vault.

The speed of the run-up affects how difficult the vault can be, especially for women. Men may not need to run as fast to perform very difficult vaults.

In competitions

Gymnasts, both male and female, perform one vault in Qualification, Team Final, and All Around Final. During qualifications, they do a second vault to qualify for the vault apparatus finals. In the Apparatus Finals, gymnasts perform two vaults. For men, the two vaults must be from different groups, while women must show two vaults with different movements from the vault table.

The score for a vault combines the difficulty of the skills (D-value) and the execution (E-value). Judges look at the form, height, length, and landing during four main parts of the vault. Gymnasts aim to land cleanly on the mat without hopping or stepping outside the landing zone.

Vault families

Vault styles are divided into different groups, called families. In competitions, gymnasts must perform two vaults from different groups. These vaults must have different second flight phases, which are the movements after the gymnast leaves the vaulting table. Some common vault families include the handspring, Tsukahara, and Yurchenko vaults. Each family has its own unique movements and challenges.

Injuries

The vaulting horse has been linked to several serious accidents over the years. In 1988, American gymnast Julissa Gomez was paralyzed in a vaulting accident, and in 1998, Chinese gymnast Sang Lan fell and suffered a serious injury during warmups. In 2007, Dutch junior gymnast Imke Glas was also seriously injured after a fall.

Studies have suggested that landing criteria in women's vaulting may increase injury risk. Recommendations include allowing more knee flexion during landing to help reduce injuries.