Men’s and women’s gymnastics is about to get its shine on the biggest stage with the Olympics set to get underway in Paris later this month. However, for those who don’t know, there is a major difference between the two competitions.
Each gender has specific events that the other does not!
Both men and women compete in the Floor Exercise and on Vault. The women also compete on the Uneven Bars and Balance Beam. The men also compete on Pommel Horse, Still Rings, Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bar. Four events for the women. Six for the men.
There are physical, biological differences between the two genders that prevent them from sharing even more events than the two that they already do. For example, the Pommel Horse would even be difficult for the G.O.A.T., Simone Biles. Shawn Johnson gave it a shot a few years back and had a hard time.
But that goes both ways.
Gymnastics looks like totally different sports for men and women!
A group of Penn State gymnasts from the men’s and women’s teams recently put their athleticism to the test.
Bobby Alessio, Matt Cormier, Landon Simpson and Michael Artlip decided to give the Balance Beam and Uneven Bars a go. Ashley Maul served as their guide.
Alessio and Cormier both failed to land a cartwheel and a wolf turn on the Beam. Neither of Simpson’s attempts were smooth but he at least completed both skills.
Both Simpson and Alessio were actually pretty solid on the Uneven Bars! Artlip tagged in for Cormier. He was the best by a large margin.
Kalea McElligott and Maul also tried the Parallel Bars, Pommel Horse and Rings.
They were pretty good on the Rings and PBars! The same cannot be said for Pommel.
It is pretty crazy how men’s and women’s gymnastics are so drastically different. The two competitions might as well be two different sports— outside of the two events where they intersect.