Competitive gymnastics feature a variety of events that allow athletes to demonstrate their skills, and they’re specific to men and women. Here, learn about female gymnastics events, which occur in a specific order on the Olympic level. The events are listed in the order below. Consider each event before enrolling your daughter in tumbling classes at the local gymnastics center.

4 Competitive Gymnastics Events for Women

1. Vault

The vault event focuses on speed, precision, and power. Competitors run a short distance before jumping onto a springboard and subsequently, the vault. They use the vault to push themselves into the air, where they twist, turn, and eventually land on their feet.

Competitors launch themselves onto the vault and into their air in different ways, such as handspring front entry and round-off front entry. Twists and rotations vary to influence how the gymnast lands. Sticking the landing, or landing on two feet without stepping out, scores higher in this event.

2. Uneven Bars

While men compete on parallel and single bars, women use uneven bars to show their athletic prowess. The first bar is about five feet and four inches high and six feet from the second bar, which is about eight feet high. Gymnasts use upper body strength to glide from one bar to the other, making releases high in the air. Perfect handstand positions are also performed during this versatile event.

3. Balance Beam

The ability to perform flips, handstands, and competitive gymnastics poses atop a balance beam tests gymnasts’ balance, coordination, and strength. Falling off the four-inch-wide beam results in point deductions, as does failing to use the entire beam or stick the landing. Gymnasts perform several acrobatic series, including flips and back saltos, before doing several somersaults off the beam to end the routine.

4. Floor Exercise

Perhaps the most artistic of the women’s competitive gymnastics events, the floor exercise requires gymnasts to stay within the floor’s boundaries at all times to avoid deductions. They start from one corner and perform a variety of acrobatic series that include cartwheels, round-offs, leaps, pirouettes, turns, double back layouts, triple twists, and salto combinations. The element of dance is apparent in this event.

The USA Gymnastics-certified teachers and coaches at Oahu Gymnastics & Ninja, LLC, provide tumbling classes that prepare children for competitive gymnastics. Located in Kailua and serving Honolulu, Pearl City, Aiea, Kaneohe, and Waimanolo, HI, this gymnastics center also offers competitive ninja classes, summer camps, and birthday party hosting services. Call (808) 261-9141 today for class information, or register online.