STRADDLE TKACHEV ON HIGH BAR AND UNEVEN PARALLEL BARS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to account for the performance differences between elite male and female gymnasts when performing the straddle Tkachev. Video recordings of the straddle Tkachev performed by male (6) and female (5) gymnasts were collected from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Differences were observed, particularly in the angular momentum values at release (male = -22.4 kg·m2/s compared with female = -7.1 kg·m2/s) and in the flight characteristics. To facilitate direct comparisons between gymnasts of different sizes, normalised angular momenta were used, with mean values for males being 1.7 greater than for females. The trajectories of the two groups of gymnasts were notably different with females releasing the bar with lower vertical velocity leading to a flatter trajectory and greater hip flexion at re-grasp.