From USA Gymnastics: VAULT
Quick, explosive and dramatic - a good vault is often described as a "big" vault. The height, distance of travel, overall acceleration into the vault and sudden impact of a no-step, "stuck" landing all create a good impression for the judges.
Men have a choice of performing one or two vaults depending if a gymnast is attempting to qualify into the Individual Event Finals of this event. Each individual vault has been assigned its own start value based on the vault's complexity.
During the pre-flight from the springboard to the horse, the gymnast must demonstrate a rise in the height of his body after pushing off of the horse and not deviate from the extended axis of the horse. The gymnast should show an opening in preparation for a controlled landing which should be accomplished without extra steps, and in line with the horse, springboard and runway.
This event is difficult because:
The entire performance happens very quickly. The gymnast must stay intensely focused and be prepared for the ground when it is time to land. Speed, power and spatial awareness are essential to performing high-level vaults correctly.
What can we expect to see at the Olympic Games?
* Handspring double fronts in the piked position and in the tucked position with � turn
* Tsukahara double backs in a tuck and piked position
* Kasamatsu stretched with multiple twists.
