Uneven Bars

Uneven Bars

The uneven bars were once parallel bars with one bar sitting higher than the other. The distance between the uneven bars was the same as the distance between the parallel bars. This allowed for many interesting maneuvers to be performed that are not possible on the present day uneven bars. Eventually manufacturers began producing the uneven bars as a separate item which allowed the bars to be set further apart. Because of this many new releases and transitions were developed. Eventually they were set so far apart that elements of the original routines from the 1950s and 60s are now obsolete. There are even some moves such as the Korbut Flip that are no longer allowed to be performed.

Olympic Uneven Bars

As with the balance beam, Nadia Comaneci and Olga Korbut began to pioneer new was of approaching an uneven bars routine. Each has a move named after them, the Comaneci salto and the Korbut Flip. Their efforts are what caused the bars to be moved farther apart. As the transition elements of routines became more difficult more space was needed. Unlike the men’s high bar, the uneven bars must be mounted without aid of a coach. A springboard may be used, but mounting the bars must involve either a simple or difficult skill.

Women's Uneven Bars

Like the balance beam, the uneven bars are a women’s apparatus. It is probably so only because of tradition as they are adjustable and have been modified in the past to accommodate more complicated routines. Another thought on why men do not participate in the uneven bars is that they already compete in more events. The current men’s list uses six apparatus, while the women use four. It could also be said that because men are considerably taller that the uneven bars will not function properly in their current state. But it is shown that the men function on the high bar quite well. Is there really much difference between the high bar or parallel bars and the uneven bars? In the future, because of gymnastics being a less popular sport for men, it may be possible that men will compete in women’s events and vice versa. The current trend is that if a boy participates in a girl’s gymnastics team they will normally perform on the same apparatus as the rest of their team. It is also said that men have just as much success in these events as women and any myths regarding why men do not participate are more than likely false. The uneven bars are just waiting for their new pioneer to bring them into the world of men’s gymnastics.