Giant (gymnastics)

A giant is an artistic gymnastics skill in which a gymnast rotates 360 degrees around an axis while in a fully extended position. It is performed on the uneven bars in women's artistic gymnastics and on the parallel bars, horizontal bar, and rings 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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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) Code of Points, a giant is a B element for women^[3] and a B element on parallel bars and an A element on horizontal bar for men.^[4]

References

1. , USA Gymnastics Online: Technique: Basic Swing: Technical Concept
2. , USA Gymnastics Online: Technique: A Typical Performance Problem in a Giant Swing
3. , FIG WAG 2009-2012 Code of Points
4. , FIG MAG 2009-2012 Code of Points

External links

• Gymnastics Revolution's explanation of giant swing technique
• USGyms.net glossary of uneven bars terminology