Paris: Can't you tell the difference between a massage and a balance beam?
AFP Sport takes a look behind the scenes at the artistic gymnastics competition that begins in earnest at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
Men compete in six events: floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.
The women's division consists of four events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.
The competition, which will take place at the Bercy Arena from Saturday through August 5, is divided into four stages: preliminary, team final, all-around final and apparatus final.
This weekend's qualifiers will see gymnasts compete as national teams or individuals, with results used to qualify gymnasts for the team final, all-around final and apparatus final.
Team performance is based on the three gymnasts with the highest scores on each apparatus.
The eight highest scoring countries advance to the team finals, which are played across all organizations.
The top 24, up to two per country, once again compete for the overall title on all apparatus events, considered the blue ribbon event of gymnastics.
The finals for the apparatus events consist of the eight highest scoring athletes on each apparatus (again, a maximum of two per country).
Performed equally by both men and women on a 12m x 12m mat, the magic involves performing perfect one-inch diagonal tumbles to music, and is open to women only.
Men's balance beam exercises are identical to women's. They focus on strengthening the core and shoulders, and only allow your hands to touch the foam and leather-covered horse and the two handles.
At just 5.75m off the ground, the gymnasts need the help of their coaches. After a brief pause, they demonstrate strength and control similar to the Iron Cross. This is when the gymnasts assume a still position with their arms extended horizontally, their legs pointing down, and all their tendons tense.
The ultimate test of a gymnast's artistry, skill, athleticism and courage – five or six seconds of dramatic moments are missed in the blink of an eye. The men's vault is 10cm higher than the women's. Watch American superstar Simone Biles land her stunning signature Biles II Yurchenko double pike jump in training on Thursday.
A controlled swing up and down the bar, positioned roughly shoulder-width apart at head height – sharp-eyed judges expect a sticky, glue-like landing.
Or the high bar is exactly what it says on the tin: It’s scary high, about 2.78m off the ground. The lone metal bar (in contrast, the uneven, parallel bars are made of fiberglass with a wood coating) is smaller in diameter than the parallel bars and makes fans gasp when gymnasts do somersaults over the bar. Hopefully, you’ll catch it later.
This apparatus is exclusively for female gymnasts and consists of two bars of different heights and widths to make it look like the gymnast is swinging straight from the bar. The high bar is 2.5 m (8.2 ft) above the floor, while the low bar is 1.7 m (5.8 ft). Keep an eye on Algerian teenager Kaylia Nemour, who is aiming to become the continent’s first Olympic gymnastics medalist. She is showing off the most complicated uneven bars routine.
The original concept comes from the 'grandfather of gymnastics', Johann Guts Muth, a German physical education professor in the early 19th century. Olga Korbut surprised fans with the first backflip at the 1972 Munich Olympics. With a width of just 10cm, it requires precise form and nerves of steel. The rectangular beam provides the ultimate test of balance, tumbling, jumping and leaping for female gymnasts, while trying not to hit the deck.
Saturday, July 27 – Men's Preliminary
Sunday, July 28 – Women's Preliminary
Monday, July 29 – Men's Team Finals
Tuesday, July 30 – Women's Team Finals
Wednesday, July 31 – Men's All-Around Final
Thursday, August 1 – Women's All-Around Final
Saturday, August 3 – Men's Floor Exercise Finals; Women's Vault Finals; Men's Pommel Horse Finals
Sunday, August 4 – Men's rings final; Women's uneven bars final; Men's vault final
Monday, August 5 – Men's parallel bars final; Women's balance beam final; Men's horizontal bar final; Women's floor exercise final
