It's Your Vault Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

The vault is an event performed in the team events, individual all-around, as well as having its own specific event final. The event is almost identical for the men's and women's games, with only slight variations, some of which will be mentioned throughout this quiz.

Answer: A vaulting horse

The vaulting horse was similar in form to the pommel horse (as is still used in the men's Olympic competition of the same name), but without the handles. The women used a horse that was perpendicular to them, while the men used a horse that was parallel to them.

After several serious injuries, there was pressure put on the International Gymnastics Federation, who got rid of the horse in favour of the vaulting table, which is broader and more cushioned, with a slope at the side of approach.

Answer: True

There are several elements to the vault. The run-up leads to the springboard, which the competitor uses to propel themselves onto the vaulting table, which is then used as a platform from which to propel once more. The gymnast can perform a variety of moves (such as twists) whilst in the air in order to get a better score.

Many gymnasts used to favour performing these moves in between the springboard and the horse, but the majority of acrobatics are now performed in between propelling from the vaulting table and the landing.

Answer: Sydney

This controversy was part of the women's tournament in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Several competitors either failed to land their vaults, stumbled at the horse (as it was then), or even missed the table completely. The issue of the horse being set too low was raised several times before officials decided to take these seriously.

After measuring the apparatus, it was found to be 5 cm too low.

Answer: To use the shoulders to push off the table

As mentioned previously, the vaulting event now features many of the acrobatic moves in between leaving the vaulting table and landing on the mat. This requires the gymnast to get significant height off the table, which is achieved primarily through using the shoulders (and elbows) to push off the table.

This is called "blocking". This requires skill as well as raw power. McKayla Maroney is hailed for the height she achieves in her vaults, said to be higher than any female gymnast before her. She attributes her strong shoulders to her tendency as a child to run around on all fours after watching "Tarzan".

Answer: Natalia Yurchenko

Yurchenko represented the Soviet Union and won three gold medals at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. She also won gold in specific vaulting events in the 1984 Friendship Games, as well as the 1982 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Finals in Zagreb.

The Yurchenko vault was one of the new approaches to vaulting which highlighted the increasing competitiveness of the sport. This contrasted with the tradition of simply running towards the vaulting table and jumping using the springboard.

Answer: The gymnast who first performs it

The Yurchenko (described in the previous question) is a prime example of this. This describes a specific vault, as well as a family of vaults. One such vault in this family is the Amanar (first performed by Simona Amanar), which sees the gymnast perform two and half twists in the air after leaving the vaulting table.

It is one of the most difficult vaults performed and is seen as a speciality of the Americans.

Answer: Difficulty and execution

Many were angered at the decision in 2006 to change the scoring system from the traditional way of scoring out of 10, as it denied the competitors the chance to emulate gymnasts such as Nadia Comaneci.

In the vault event, each specific type of vault is attached to a difficulty score. This score does not change during an event, so a more difficult vault will give greater rewards, but at greater risk. The increased likelihood that competitors will make mistakes on more difficult vaults must be taken into consideration to make a balanced decision on which vault will yield the best score. The scores for difficulty and execution are added together to give a total score.

Answer: Too much chalk on the hands

Judges analyse the minutiae of the actions of the competitor before the vaulting table, on the vaulting table, and in the air after leaving the table. In the new scoring system, a perfect score is viewed as an impossibility by many.

In the women's event, competitors are allowed to stop during their run-up if they do not feel comfortable, but must return to the start of the track to begin the vault again within 30 seconds. In the men's competition, however, such a stop would lead to a score of zero.

Answer: Sticking

If the gymnast does not land on their feet, they score zero. To "stick" a landing means to land on one's feet and stay there. This may seem simple, but the momentum of the gymnast, both linear (travelling forward) and angular (due to the twists performed in the air) can disorient the gymnast, who must keep a clear mind.

A landing must also be within the landing area to avoid penalty. The more height a competitor gets after "blocking", the more time in the air they have to perform their moves and to orient themselves for a solid landing.