How wide is the balance beam in gymnastics at the Olympics?
At the Olympic Games, the balance beam event sees gymnasts perform flips and leaps on a narrow surface
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The gymnastics at the Olympics in Paris is in full flow with the women’s and men’s artistic team events offering the sport’s first gold medals of this year’s Games.
Athletes take part in several disciplines, including the floor, vault, pommel horse and balance beam events, all of them demanding incredible displays of strength, elegance and control.
The balance beam, in particular, sees gymnasts perform leaps, flips and turns on the narrowest of surfaces.
The beam, which is only used in the women’s team event and also has its own individual event, is 1.25 metres off the ground and five metres long but is just 10 centimetres wide.
Simone Biles has won bronze on the balance beam at the last two Olympics, and made her dazzling return in Paris on the apparatus to qualify for another final.
Gymnasts have 90 seconds to perform their routines before dismounting from the bar, and are judged for the difficulty and execution of their performance.
Male gymnasts do not compete in the balance beam, just as the women do not take part in the rings, pommel horse, parallel bars and horizontal bars.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments