OUTWARD AND INWARD TKACHEVS ON UNEVEN PARALLEL BARS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether changing the bar spacing has influenced the nature of Tkachevs performed on uneven bars. Video recordings of straddle Tkachevs performed outwards (n=5) and inwards (n=5) along with a piked Tkachev (n=1) also performed inwards, were collected from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. A large increase in angular momentum was observed (74%) in the straddle facing inward over the outward facing Tkachevs. Analysis of the gymnasts’ flight profiles also showed that when adopting the newer inward style, the gymnasts had greater bar clearance as a result of a steeper trajectory. The development of the newer inward style has facilitated the execution of more adaptations of the Tkachev.