The vault, formerly known as vaulting horse, is an artistic gymnastics apparatus. It is used by male as well as female gymnasts. In 2002, the standard changed from a vaulting horse to a vaulting table.

Dimensions

• Height 125 cm for women and 135 cm for men
• Length 120 cm
• Width 95 cm
• Approach run up to 25m

Exercise for MAG

An exercise on vault is only one vault. In apparatus finals are two vaults from different vault groups as described in Code Of Points. Both hands do the support on the vaulting table. The vault consists of single or multiple turns.

Exercise for WAG

Scoring

Judging is based, as with other gymnastic events, on difficulty and form (which can be regarded, perhaps, as elegance and control). Judges look at the height and distance of the vault as well as the number of saltos (somersaults) and twists (rotation about an axis as if drawn through the centre of the head to between the feet). In addition judges will 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 gymnastic 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 between which the gymnast should land or lose points.

External links

• US Gym Net's glossary of vaulting skills

The term vaulting horse may also be used literally. There is an offshoot of equestrianism which uses a specially trained live horse. Competitors perform a one to two minute dance/gymnastics routine on the back of their horses either solo or in pairs or trios. This is an adaptation of the horseback performers you may have seen at the circus.

See also

• Gymnastics Apparatus
• http://www.geocities.com/aussievaulting/index.html
• http://www.americanvaulting.org/index.html