The Balance Beam in Gymnastics
The balance beam is an apparatus used in artistic gymnastics; it is also the event, which uses the said apparatus. This gymnastic event is sometimes simply called “beam”.
The balance beam is a small and thin beam, which is raised by a stand on both sides. These beams are made up of leather-like material. The measurements should be: 4.07 feet in height, 16 feet in length, and 3.9 inches in width. Female gymnasts exclusively perform this event.
In international competitions, a beam routine should have: two dance elements, one leap, hop, or jump, and the legs should be split in 180 degrees; should also have a full turn on one foot; a series of acrobatic skills; some acrobatic elements in different directions, and a dismount. Judges score the gymnasts by looking at the elements used in the routine, errors are also noted. Deductions are made when the gymnast fails to do something, like for example, lapses in control, balance checks, and poor execution.
balance beamSimilar Sports
- Artistic Gymnastics — an Olympic sport where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, such as the Vault, Floor (men and women), Pommel Horse, Rings, Parallel Bars, High Bar (men), and Uneven Bars, Balance Beam (women).
- Floor Exercise — gymnasts perform a tumbling and dance routine on a floor space.
- Slacklining — balancing and doing tricks along a suspended length of flat webbing that is tensioned between two anchors.
Related Pages
- More about the Sport of Gymnastics
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
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