Boy on a modern vaulting table.

The vault is an artistic gymnastics apparatus, as well as the skill performed using that apparatus. Vaulting is also the action of performing a vault. Both male and female gymnasts perform the vault. The English abbreviation for the event in gymnastics scoring is VT.

Performance

To perform a vault, the gymnast runs down a runway (the run), which is usually padded or carpeted. They hurdle onto a springboard and springs onto the vault with their hands (the preflight or first flight, and block). For vaults in the Yurchenko family, the gymnast will do a round-off onto the springboard and a back handspring onto the vault. They then perform the actual vault, which may be as simple as leaping over the apparatus or as complicated as executing several twists and flips in the air (second flight). They then land on the mat on the other side of the apparatus (the postflight).

Vault apparatus

The apparatus itself originated as a "horse", much like the pommel horse but without the handles; it was sometimes known as the vaulting horse. The horse was set up with its long dimension perpendicular to the run for women, and parallel for men.^[2] The vaulting horse was the apparatus used in the Olympics for over a century, beginning with the Men's vault in the first modern Olympics and ending with the Men's and Women's gymnastics at the 2000 Olympics.

The horse has been blamed for several serious accidents over the years. In 1988, American Julissa Gomez was paralyzed in a vaulting accident; she died from complications from her injuries three years later. ^[3] At the 1998 Goodwill Games, Chinese gymnast Sang Lan suffered a terrible fall during warmups that left her paralyzed. ^[4] A series of crashes at the 2000 Olympics, in which gymnasts either rammed into the horse's front end or botched landings that followed problems with hand placement during push-offs, prompted the International Gymnastics Federation (known by its French acronym "FIG") to consider a change in apparatus.^[2]

Although the crashes were actually ascribed to a mis-calibration of the vault horse's height^[5], FIG made the change in apparatus, citing safety reasons as well as the desire to facilitate more impressive acrobatics.^[2] The 2001 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships were the first international competition to make use of the "vaulting table", an apparatus made by Dutch gymnastics equipment company Janssen-Fritsen since the mid-1990s; gymnasts nicknamed it the "tongue".^[2] It featured a flat, larger, and more cushioned surface almost parallel to the floor, but tilted slightly towards the run, which slopes downward at the end closest to the springboard.

While the new vaulting table appears to be safer than the old apparatus, the possibility of accidents still exists. In 2007, Dutch junior gymnast Imke Glas was seriously injured after a fall on vault.^[6]

Scoring and rules

Scoring on vault is based on several factors. Gymnasts are expected to land cleanly, with no hops or steps, and within a prescribed lane width on the mat. They must also demonstrate good technique and execution in the actual vault. Falls, steps, poor technique and poor form lead to deductions.

Depending on the competition, the final score is derived from a) a single vault; b) the average of two vaults; c) the better of two vaults.

Olympics-level scoring

As in other gymnastics events, at the elite/world class level, scoring is regulated by the Code Of Points. Under the new Code, two panels of judges evaluate the vault. The D-score and E-score are added together for the gymnasts's total mark.

• D-score: Every vault has been assigned a specific points value in the Code based on the difficulty of the vault. The D-score is simply this value. Every gymnast performing the same vault will receive the same D-score.

• The E-score: The judges work from a 10.0 base execution score and deduct for errors in form, technique, height, amplitude, execution and landing. Judges look at the body position: whether the knees and feet remain together whilst in flight; straightness of legs and back; whether arms are tidily drawn in or flailing about. As with some other gymnastics events a stuck landing is desirable, whereby the feet hit the mat at the same time and together with no steps, hops or strides are taken in order for the gymnast to remain upright. In addition there are tram lines on the landing mat; if the gymnast does not land entirely within these lines, he or she will receive a deduction.

In most current world-class, World Championships or Olympic competition, in the team and all-around sessions, gymnasts perform one vault. However, gymnasts who wish to qualify for and compete in the vault event final must perform a second vault during the team qualifying session. The score from this second vault does not count toward the team standings or their qualification score for the all-around; it is simply used to determine qualification to the event final.

In the vault event final, gymnasts again perform two vaults, which must come from different 'families' (ie, have a different approach and post-flight). The scores from the two vaults are averaged for the final mark.

A gymnast performing a double twisting Yurchenko.

Scoring at other levels of competition

At other levels of competition which use Codes based on the 10.0 scoring system, each vault is assigned a start value. The SV, which can be as high as 10.0 or much lower, represents the maximum score the gymnast can achieve if the vault is performed perfectly. The judges work from the SV and deduct for errors in form, technique, height, amplitude, execution and landing.

Universal rules and conventions

There are many rules and conventions that apply to vaulting at all levels, from Olympic to recreational competition, regardless of the Code of Points used.

The evaluation of the gymnast's vault begins when she or he touches the springboard. The distance of the springboard from the vaulting table is determined by the height and strength of the gymnast, as well as the vault she or he is performing. Similarly, the portion of the runway the gymnast uses is also of personal preference. Some gymnasts use the entire length of the runway; others do not. Judges neither note nor evaluate the gymnast's run. Similarly, springboard settings are of no consequence to the score, unless coaches have failed to put safety mats in place.

Coaches must tell the judges which vault the gymnast plans to perform in advance. Every vault is assigned a specific number; this number is "flashed" or displayed on a board or electronic screen before the gymnast begins. In the past, gymnasts incurred a deduction for flashing one vault and performing a different one. However, this penalty has been removed from the Code of Points.

Gymnasts are allowed to chalk their hands and feet. They are also permitted to wear gymnastics shoes and wrist guards as they so choose.

If a gymnast "balks" -- ie, stops in the middle of the runway or breaks his or her run before touching the springboard -- no deductions are taken. The gymnast is given thirty seconds to return to the top of the runway and make a second attempt at the vault. If, however, the gymnast touches any portion of the springboard or vault itself, he or she receives a score of zero and is not permitted to make another attempt.

There are several other acts that completely invalidate the vault and result in a score of 0. These include receiving spotting (assistance) from a coach and not using the U-shaped safety mat for Yurchenko-style vaults.

Vault families

Vault styles are broken into various groups. The group a vault style fits into is determined by the action performed during the vaulting movement.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Vault (gymnastics)

• The 2006 Code of Points from the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) website
• WAG apparatus description at the FIG website
• MAG apparatus description at the FIG website