Gymnastics Artistic-Trampoline

Number of medal events:
14 – men’s individual apparatus (Floor, Pommel Horse, Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars, Horizontal Bar), women’s individual apparatus (Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor), as well as Individual All-Around and Team competitions for both men and women.

Number of competitors:
196: 98 men and 98 women

Each country is limited to five men and five women

History of Gymnastics at the Olympic Games
The term Artistic Gymnastics was first used in the 19th century. Between its appearance at the Athens 1896 Games and the 1920s, the event evolved into what we recognise as modern Gymnastics. The men’s individual apparatus and Team competitions first appeared at the Paris 1924 Games; a women’s Team event was introduced in 1928, with women’s individual apparatus competitions added in 1952.

The basics
Along with events to find the best teams and the best all-around performers, gymnasts battle for gold on individual apparatus.

Scores are given by a panel of judges, taking into account the degree of difficulty and the quality of the execution. Strength, flexibility and balance are keys to success in this breathtaking and hugely competitive sport.

Competition format
The Olympic Artistic Gymnastics competition has four phases: qualification, Team final, Individual All-Around final and individual apparatus finals.

All gymnasts compete in the qualifications. The best eight teams then go through to the Team final, where three team members compete on each apparatus. Teams are ranked on their total score.

The best 24 individual gymnasts (maximum two from each country) go through to the Individual All-Around final, where gymnasts compete on all apparatus. The best eight gymnasts on each apparatus (maximum two from each country) go through to the individual apparatus finals.

Each apparatus is judged for difficulty and execution, with the highest scoring athlete the winner.

Officials
The jury is made up of nine judges, who look at difficulty and execution, deducting marks for penalties.

Keys to success
Although they make it look effortless, gymnasts need incredible strength, control and balance, combined with speed in the Vault. The winning gymnasts will be daring and ambitious – attempting moves that are guaranteed a high score for difficulty if they can be executed to perfection.

Judged against such exacting criteria, the smallest extra step, wobble, misalignment or mistake in a routine can make all the difference. Gymnasts must not lose concentration for a moment.

Jargon buster
All-around – competitions that feature a variety of different elements (six for men, four for women).

Balance Beam – a single beam, 5m long and 10cm wide, used exclusively in women’s competition.

Rings – two rings, each with an internal diameter of 18cm, are suspended 280cm from the floor. Rings are used exclusively in men’s competition.

Podium – the raised competition area.

Vault – the vault is 120cm long and 95cm wide, and is set at a height of 135cm (for men) or 125cm (for women).

Trampoline 

Two – men’s and women’s competition

Number of competitors
32: 16 men and 16 women.

Each country is limited to two men and two women

Field of play
The field of play contains two trampolines next to each other, 2m apart and both just 10m away from the judging panel. Each trampoline is 5.05m long, 2.91m wide and 1.155m high. The bed is woven from strips that are less than 6mm thick, and is attached to the frame with more than 100 steel springs.

History of Trampoline at the Olympic Games
Trampoline Gymnastics is a relative newcomer on the Olympic programme; it made its debut at the Sydney 2000 Games.

Find out more about Trampoline at the Olympic Games on the International Olympic Committee website.

The basics
Gymnasts perform a series of 10 skill routines, with a variety of single, double and triple somersaults with and without twists. Precise technique and perfect body control are vital for success, with judges delivering marks for difficulty, execution and time of flight, minus penalties.

Competition format
Each competition for men and women features two phases: the qualification round and the final round. Athletes perform two voluntary routines in the qualification round: in the qualification round, the first routine (with two skills counting for difficulty) focuses on simplicity and excellent execution, while the second exercise has no difficulty limitations. The eight athletes with the best scores advance to the final for one more voluntary routine of 10 different skills, which determines the results of the competition.

Officials
Eleven judges watch the routine and award scores for difficulty, execution and time of flight. Marks are taken off for infringements and errors.

Keys to success
Athletes are judged against a strict set of criteria where every part of the routine must be as near to perfection as possible. The angle of the limbs, the position of the feet, the moves and finish must all be of the highest standard.

Breaking the rules
As well as being judged against an exacting set of criteria, where poor execution will lose points, athletes can also be penalised for taking too long to start their routine, or major infringements such as landing on the frame of the trampoline.

Jargon buster
Barani – a front somersault with a half-twist.

Fliffus – a double somersault with at least a half-twist.

Triffus – a triple somersault with at least a half-twist.

Rudolph – a front somersault with 1½ twists, sometimes known as a ‘Rudy’.