Description of the Beam in Gymnastics

As children grow, their developing motor skills include a sense of balance. Most school gyms have a low, narrow beam on which children can practice this new skill. In competitive gymnastics, the beam is nearly 4 feet off the ground and meets specifications for size, height, composition and flexibility. Female gymnasts from around the world compete on the balance beam every year.

  1. History

    • Balance has long been an important part of physical development. In the 18th and 19th centuries, gymnasts used a plank or smooth, rounded log on the ground to perfect their balance. It was not until 1934, at the first world gymnastics championship in Budapest, Hungary, that a balance beam was formally introduced. This first beam was eight cm, or about 3 inches, wide.

    Size and Height

    • The specifications for the size of a balance beam have changed little in the past half-century. A regulation beam for gymnastic competition is 10 cm, or about 4 inches wide on the top and bottom of the beam. The sides of the beam are rounded out to a maximum width of 13 cm to give it more stability and strength. The beam is 5 m long, and stands a little more than 1 m off the well-padded floor.

    Composition

    • The materials used to make a competition beam must meet strict specifications. A beam with a 135 kg load in the center must bend no more than 8 mm. Modern beams have four bracing legs to add to this stability, instead of the two legs of yesteryear. In 1973, padding was added to the beam in the form of foam rubber on top of plywood. Prior to that, gymnasts had no padding for hands and feet to land on.

    Competition

    • Even with padding on the floor below, the balance beam is a test of courage for the gymnast. A competitor wishing to achieve full scores must walk, run, leap, turn, and jump, as well as perform feats while sitting, standing and lying on the beam. A balance beam routine must use the full length of the beam and include a mount and dismount of the beam itself.

    Some Famous Competitors

    • In 1974, German gymnast Erika Zuchold was the first to complete a back flip on the beam in competition. In Munich at the 1972 Olympics, Russian gymnast Olga Korbut captivated the world. In Montreal in 1976, Romanian Olympic competitor Nadia Comaneci achieved the first perfect score of 10 on the balance beam.