History

• The balance beam was originally intended to help people with balance. Johan Christoph GutsMuths wrote about a beam he had made from a rounded pine tree trunk that was about 64 feet long. "The German Art of Gymnastics" author, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, took the beam and redefined it with a smooth, straight beam that was held by two strong posts. Jahn wanted the beam to be at least 40 feet long and 10 inches wide. During the 1800s a version of the beam called the Swedish bench was used in physical education classes. The beam was narrow and sat low to the ground.
  
  

Competition

• The beam made its debut in a competitive state in the world championships in Budapest in 1934. At this time the beam was only about 3 inches wide. The beam then became a regular in women's gymnastics competitions but was widened to the 4 inches it's at today. As the years went on, acrobatics began to play a role in the beam competitions and the first back flip was performed on the beam in 1964.
  
  

Structure

• The balance beam that is used in competition is 16.4 feet long and 4 inches wide. The beam stands 4.1 feet from the ground, and is made out of an overlay made of elastic, plywood and foam rubber. The sheath of the beam is designed to offer good grip to the gymnast but is also firm.
  
  

Types of Skills

• A mount and dismount take the gymnast from the ground to the beam and vice versa. There are a variety of ways to mount and dismount the beam. A salto is a known as a somersault while on the balance beam. A gymnast will complete a front or back flip on the beam and try to land on her feet. A back handspring is a skill in which the gymnast will take off backwards. She will use her hands to push off backwards from the beam, complete a flip in the air while landing on her feet on the beam.
  
  

Requirements

• In a competitive environment, there are several things that a gymnast is required to do during her beam routine, depending upon her competitive level. For instance, at some of the more advanced levels, she must spin on the beam on one foot and she must also perform a mid-air flip while on the beam. If she doesn't complete these skills or wobbles or falls during other skills, deductions may be taken from her overall score.