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How does a gymnast perform a vault in artistic gymnastics?

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Simone Biles of Team United States performs a flip above the balance beam during the Women's Balance Beam Final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. — gymnastics Simone Biles performing on the balance beam at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (delayed until 2021). She won a bronze medal in the event.

In artistic gymnastics, a gymnast performs a vault by executing a high-speed run toward the apparatus, gathering momentum before rebounding off a springboard (also known as a Reuther board or beatboard).12

Upon reaching the vaulting table—a padded, slightly inclined surface—the gymnast places their hands on the apparatus to push off, propelling themselves into the air. While in the air, the athlete performs various acrobatic movements, such as spins, twists, or specific techniques like a squat vault, where the knees are drawn toward the chest to pass the legs between the arms. The exercise concludes with the gymnast landing on a mat.123

Each vault is evaluated by a panel of judges based on a combination of difficulty and execution, with scores reflecting the complexity of the maneuvers performed.12