Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What movements do gymnasts perform on the pommel horse?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
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.
On the pommel horse, a men's artistic gymnastics event, the gymnast supports his body weight using his hands on the apparatus's pommels. The performance requires continuous, fluid movements without stops, primarily involving the trunk and legs.1
Key movements include:
- Leg Circles: Gymnasts perform both single and double leg circles.1
- Scissors: This involves crossing the legs in a scissoring motion.1
- Hand Transitions: Athletes must vary their grasp by moving their hands across different sections of the horse: the neck (forward), the saddle (center), and the croup (rear).1
- Directional Variation: To demonstrate skill, gymnasts must perform these movements in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.1
These exercises are designed to showcase balance and swinging proficiency while maintaining constant motion.12