Chalk Talk: Dissecting gymnastics' perfect landing

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It sounds simple: stick the landing.

And the concept, actually, is simple: the gymnast lands and doesn’t move.

Going with that simple description, any movement is a deduction. A small step in any direction is one-tenth off. A step more than shoulder width in size is three-tenths, and those rules apply to hops as well.

There actually was a time when the gymnast could land and then step back into a finish position, but those days are gone. Yes, a gymnast can still do the pretty finish position, but only after showing a true stuck landing. Otherwise, it’s a one-tenth deduction.

The nitpicking doesn’t end there. If the gymnast sticks the landing, that doesn’t necessarily mean the judges won’t find deductions. The gymnast’s feet can land and not move an inch, but if his or her chest is down, that is a deduction. If the gymnast fights for the stick and their arms flail or go in circles to catch their balance, that is also a deduction.

Also, there are times it looks like a gymnast has stuck the landing, but they are leaning backward and step back quickly to salute the judges and show they are finished. Well, it’s a nice try but not a stick. That’s a step back and a deduction.

Over on the vault, things get taken up a notch with lines on the landing mat like a plane runway. If the gymnast lands and takes a step, like usual, that’s one-tenth deduction. Iif he or she goes outside the lines with that step, that is another tenth deduction added on – a double whammy. Plus, if the gymnast doesn’t land exactly in the center of the mat, that can also be a slight deduction.