The Difficulty Of Exercises On Uneven Bars Between The Two Millennia

Abstract

The uneven bars apparatus is part of women’s gymnastics polyathlon. Over time, this apparatus has had several modifications, which have gradually led to the evolution of the execution technique, an increase in the element difficulty and learning techniques. Scientific progress is an important factor that has led to the spectacular development of uneven bars. The state-of-the-art materials used in the construction of the apparatus, the decrease in the bar radius, the change in the distance between bars and the apparatus height have encouraged the emergence of new elements, within the limits of the regulations in force. The purpose of this study is to point out the evolution of the degree of difficulty and the share of the elements used by gymnasts in the composition of exercises performed in the apparatus finals at the Olympic Games, particularly on the uneven bars apparatus. Also, we want to present the elements which women gymnasts have used over time and whether there are certain elements that, if included in exercises, provide an advantage to certain women gymnasts. The methods used are: bibliographic study, observation, videographics, as well as mathematical, graphical and tabular methods. To this purpose, we analysed the exercises of women gymnasts presented on this apparatus in the finals of the Olympic Games since 1980 up today. Judging according to the regulations, we notice that the scores granted for difficulty are constantly increasing. This makes us conclude that the difficulty of exercises performed on uneven bars is constantly increasing.