Vault in Gymnastics

gymnastics · acrobatics · Olympic sport · strength

Running start. Gymnasts sprint down a long runway to build up speed and power before launching into their vault. The faster they run, the higher and more powerful their jump can be.

The vault table. Modern vaults use a special rectangular table that's firm and bouncy. Older gymnastics also used a piece of equipment called a pommel horse, which has a rounded top with handles.

Flipping and twisting. Once in the air, gymnasts perform amazing tricks like somersaults, twists, and combinations of both. The hardest vaults require incredible strength and split-second timing.

Everyone competes. Both boys and girls do vault events in gymnastics competitions, from school meets all the way up to the Olympics. Each athlete gets a score based on how difficult their vault is and how perfectly they land it.

Different difficulty levels. Gymnasts can choose easier vaults or attempt super challenging ones with multiple twists and flips. Harder vaults are worth more points, but they're also riskier if something goes wrong.