A giant is an
artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics in which athletes perform short routines on different apparatuses. The sport is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), which designs the Code of Points and regulates ...
skill in which a gymnast rotates 360 degrees around an axis while in a fully extended position. It is performed on the
uneven bars
The uneven bars or asymmetric bars is an artistic gymnastics apparatus. It is made of a steel frame. The bars are made of fiberglass with wood coating, or less commonly wood. The English abbreviation for the event in gymnastics scoring is UB or ...
in women's artistic gymnastics and on the
parallel bars
Parallel bars are floor apparatus consisting of two wooden bars slightly over long and positioned at roughly head height. Parallel bars are used in artistic gymnastics and also for physical therapy and home exercise. Gymnasts may optionally we ...
,
horizontal bar
The horizontal bar, also known as the high bar, is an apparatus used by male gymnasts in artistic gymnastics. It traditionally consists of a cylindrical metal (typically steel) bar that is rigidly held above and parallel to the floor by a syste ...
, and
rings
Ring may refer to:
* Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry
* To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell
:(hence) to initiate a telephone connection
Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...
in men's artistic gymnastics.
Technique
The gymnast begins in a handstand position. With legs together, toes pointed, and body fully extended, the feet begin to descend. The upper body hollows very slightly until the gymnast passes through horizontal.
USA Gymnastics Online: Technique: Basic Swing: Technical Concept On the upswing, the abdominal muscles are engaged to slightly arch the body and prevent anterior pelvic tilt, which adversely affects the strength of the swing.
USA Gymnastics Online: Technique: A Typical Performance Problem in a Giant Swing The gymnast either returns to the handstand position or continues through handstand to perform another giant or other element.
The gymnast must remain in a stretched position for the entire giant, except on parallel bars where the apparatus height necessitates bended knees at the bottom of the swing.
Variations
Some variations on the standard giant include:
* Forward or front giant - Performed with palms turned inward to face the body and heels leading the down swing instead of the front of the foot.
* Inverted, Eagle-Grip, or L-Grip giant - Performed like a forward giant but with the palms turned outward (L-Grip) to face the body
* Mixed grip giant - Performed as either a regular or forward giant with the hands held in two different grips (e.g. one hand in L-Grip, one hand in normal grip)
* One arm giant - Performed with only one arm holding the bar instead of two
* German giant - Performed with palms facing away from the gymnast's body and shoulders rotated backwards
* 3/4 giant - Performed starting in front support and casting to parallel then back down and around the bar to the front support position once again
* Skoumal giant -Performed as a back giant with the shoulders rotated forward as if doing an "inlocate" on rings. Essentially like a Manna over the top of the bar.
Scoring
In the current
Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) 2017-2020
Code of Points, a giant is a B (0.2) element on uneven bars for women,
FIG WAG 2009-2012 Code of Points and a B (0.2) element on parallel bars and an A (0.1) element on the horizontal bar for men.
{Dead link, date=December 2019 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes , FIG MAG 2009-2012 Code of Points
References
External links
Gymnastics Revolution's explanation of giant swing technique
Artistic gymnastics