Gymnastics beam
A gymnastics beam is narrow piece platform (usually 4”
wide) which is raised 4 ½-feet off the ground. Originally, the
beams were covered with a rubber similar to basketballs, but these tended
to be too slippery. Modern beams are covered with leather or suede and
they’re sprung to absorb some shock if the athlete falters.
Choreography performed on a gymnastics beam usually involves:
• Turns
• Leaps
• Mounts/dismounts
• Dance poses
• Combinations of all these
Men typically don’t compete on the gymnastics beam because of
the potential injury of getting racked on the beam. However, this doesn’t
bar men from practicing on the balance beam altogether. In fact, many
companies make beams that are only a foot or two off ground to prevent
this sort of mishap.