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uneven parallel bars
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Shilese Jones of Team United States in a red leotard performs a handstand on the uneven bars during the Women's Uneven Bars Final at the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. Diagram comparing the dimensions of men's parallel bars and women's uneven parallel bars in gymnastics, with labeled heights and bar spacing in meters and feet. A gymnast performs a handstand on the left apparatus. Simone Biles of Team United States in a blue leotard performs a move on the uneven bars, gripping the bar with one hand and looking focused during competition. Vera Caslavska, wearing a red leotard, performs a routine on the uneven bars during Olympic gymnastics competition.
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Also called:
asymmetrical parallel bars
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Shilese Jones of Team United States in a red leotard performs a handstand on the uneven bars during the Women's Uneven Bars Final at the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
Raising the bar Shilese Jones performing on the uneven bars at the gymnastics world championships, 2023; she won a bronze medal in the event.

uneven parallel bars

gymnastics
Also known as: asymmetrical parallel bars
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Diagram comparing the dimensions of men's parallel bars and women's uneven parallel bars in gymnastics, with labeled heights and bar spacing in meters and feet. A gymnast performs a handstand on the left apparatus.
Uneven parallel bars apparatusDiagram showing the uneven parallel bars used in women's gymnastics.

uneven parallel bars, gymnastics apparatus developed in the 1930s and used in women’s competition. The length and construction were formerly the same as for the parallel bars used in men’s gymnastics. In the modern apparatus, the top bar is 2.55 meters (8.36 feet) above the floor, while the lower bar is 1.75 meters (5.74 feet) high. The height of both bars may be increased by 5 or 10 cm (2 or 4 inches) for taller gymnasts. Each bar is 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) long. The apparatus was first used in international artistic gymnastics competition at the 1936 Olympic Games. It allows a great variety of movements, although hanging and swinging exercises predominate. The performer strives for smoothness and equal use of both bars in her routine.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Will Gosner.
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