Uneven bars or uneven parallel bars is an Olympic gymnastics event performed only by women. This was believed to have been developed in France in the 1930’s. Uneven bars also mean the apparatus used for this event.
The uneven bars are two bars set apart at different heights, so the gymnast can move from bar to bar. They are made of a steel frame and fiberglass with wood coating. The gymnasts must complete bar routines that was designed by her or by her coach. Some movements that the gymnasts must use are: mounts, elementary skills, giants, transitions, stalders, release moves, and dismounts.
The judges assess the routines based on difficulty, form, execution, technique, and composition. A deduction is made when gymnasts falls, or they have poor executions, empty swings, and pauses. The event first made its appearance at the World Championships in Hungary in 1934. It became an official Olympic sport in 1952 which was held in Helsinki.
Similar 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).
- Horizontal Bar — artistic gymnastics event also known as high bar, where athletes perform aerial stunts on a horizontal bar.
- Parallel Bars — an artistic gymnastics discipline performed by men which comprises predominantly of swings and vaults with two parallel bars.