Safekipedia

Vault (gymnastics)

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

An Uzbek gymnast performs a vault during the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore.

What is a Vault?

A vault is a fun and exciting move in artistic gymnastics. Both boys and girls do vaults to show how strong, fast, and skilled they are. People often call this move “VT” for short.

How Do They Do It?

Gymnasts run down a small lane and then jump onto a special piece of equipment called a vaulting table. After that, they twist, turn, and flip in the air before landing safely on a soft mat. It all happens very quickly, which makes it fun to watch!

The Equipment

The vault used to be done on a wooden piece called the pommel horse. But now, gymnasts use a vaulting table. This table is padded and slopes down, making it safer. It is a little taller for boys and a bit shorter for girls. There is also a long run-up area where gymnasts sprint before they vault.

Why is it Popular?

The vault is popular because it shows how brave and careful gymnasts can be. They have to do many moves in just a few seconds. It is a special part of gymnastics competitions all around the world.

Images

An athlete performing a vault in gymnastics, showcasing a common movement in the sport.
A gymnast performs a vault during the 2012 London Olympics.
Illustration showing the first flight phases of three common gymnastics vault styles: Handspring, Tsukahara, and Yurchenko.

Related articles

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Vault (gymnastics), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.