The Most Common Vault in Elite Level Gymnastics: The Amanar

In the realm of elite level gymnastics, the most frequently executed vault is the Amanar, a Yurchenko-style vault. This vault involves a round-off onto the vaulting table, followed by a back handspring, and a 2.5 twisting layout somersault off the table. Its complex nature and high difficulty score make it a hallmark of competitive excellence for top female gymnasts, particularly in international competitions.

For women gymnasts, the preferred vault is nearly always a Yurchenko-style vault. This entails performing a round-off onto a springboard facing away from the vault, and then transitioning onto the vault in a backward position. This method is advantageous for lighter athletes as it efficiently generates power. Yurchenko-style vaults are typically executed in a straight, laid-out position. The uniqueness in gymnastics often lies in the number of rotations performed, ranging from a basic full twist to a daring 2.5 twists, which might be recognized as an 'Amanar'. Although very rare, some gymnasts are now attempting to perfect a triple twist vault, an unprecedented move in the sport.

To earn a gymnastics medal in the vault event, athletes must execute two different vaults. The championship-class gymnasts usually showcase the Amanar alongside another vault, the Cheng. With the Cheng, gymnasts hit the springboard backward, do a half twist to face the vault, and complete a 1.5 twists in a straight position. Notorious for her innovation, Simone Biles has introduced her own advanced version of the Cheng vault, incorporating two full twists instead of 1.5. This move is exceptionally uncommon and requires extraordinary skill and balance.

In contrast, male gymnasts often perform Yurchenko vaults, though they more commonly showcase Tsukahara-type vaults. These male vaults begin with a forward round-off onto a springboard, followed by a quarter turn onto the vaulting table, and then a series of twists. There are also vaults with no turn-on, where the entire approach and flight phases are done facing forward. One such vault, the Dragulescu, consists of two forward flips in a tucked position followed by a half turn at the end.

Overall, the Amanar vault remains the most prominent and challenging vault in elite gymnastics due to its difficulty and precision requirement. This vault continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in elite level gymnastics, with gymnasts constantly striving to master new twists and turns in their routines.