Vault is an explosive event that beautifully combines power and grace into a series that lasts only a few seconds. At full speed, a gymnast runs toward the table, springs off the apparatus, flips and twists with exquisite precision and immaculate form, and finally, finishes by landing on the mat, preferably feet down. It’s the skillful and spectacular components that make this event not only a favorite among gymnasts, but spectators, as well. 

Mykayla Skinner of the USA and Giulia Steingruber of Switzerland are two elite gymnasts who exemplify the idea of powerful vaulters. Both women have made a reputable name for themselves on the international stage with their ability to perform vaults that leave the audience wanting more. 

Mykayla Skinner

Already this year, Mykayla Skinner has dominated title after title on this event. At the Pan American Championships a few short weeks ago, Skinner claimed the gold in the team event, floor, all-around, and vault. Even with such success at a major competition, it was at the City of Jesolo Trophy meet that Skinner showcased her two most difficult vaults. She began the event by competing a vault she has never performed on the international stage, the Cheng (Round-off, back handspring with a 1/2 turn onto the table, stretched forward salto with 1 1/2 twists). With a 6.4 level of difficulty, she scored a total of 15.650, the highest score of the day for any event in the competition. The key to performing such a challenging vault is to distribute your weight equally on your hands as you hit and spring off the table, in order to achieve maximum amplitude, and to fully finish the twist, so as to avoid any deductions on start values. 

Using the momentum obtained from such an explosive first vault, Skinner followed with an Amanar (Yurchenko with 2 1/2 twists). There is no doubt that this is one of the hardest vaults to be performed by female gymnasts. There are three important components that need to be executed when attempting such a vault, and Skinner completes each. First, speed onto the board is necessary for any vaulter to perform at a high level. Skinner builds speed through her run, gradually accelerating as she begins down the runway and reaches the board. Without adequate speed hitting the board, everything else is irrelevant- the gymnast won’t generate enough power to perform the desired skill. Next, Skinner demonstrates the proper ‘block’ off the table that leads into the flip and twists. She effectively uses her generated speed to redirect herself up into the air, by powerfully blocking off the table and shifting her momentum. She finally introduces the ‘snapping down’ portion of the vault, where she directs her body and surrounding forces in a rotating and twisting manner, allowing her enough power to complete the 2 1/2 twists and find the landing. Each aspect is vital when performing at such an elite level, and Skinner successfully executes each segment in order to perform a triumphant vault. 

Mykayla Skinner- Cheng 
Mykayla Skinner- Amanar 

Giulia Steingruber 

Giulia Steingruber is Switzerland’s golden girl. In 2013, she took her country by storm when she placed first at the Swiss National Championships on vault, bars, beam, floor, and in the all-around. Later that year, she averaged two vaults finishing with a 14.750 score, earning a gold medal at the European Championships. She defended her title earlier this year scoring a 14.666. While she does not compete vaults that have difficulty equal to Skinner's, she performs with technically precise form and impressive amplitude. At the 2014 European Championships, she executed a front handspring rudi (1 1/2 twists) and a Yurchenko full. At first glance, Skinner seems to blow Steingruber away in terms of start value and difficulty, however, we have to consider that at the 2012 Olympics in London, only four gymnasts competed the handspring rudi vault, while six competed the Amanar (Skinner’s second vault). When comparing the two vaults, it seems that it is more difficult to twist out of a front handspring as compared to a round-off, because the front vault has no initial twisting momentum, unlike the Yurchenko. The rudi is also a backwards-landing vault, making it much harder to stick due to the massive amount of momentum that a gymnast generates throughout the entire series.

Giulia Steingruber- Front Handspring Rudi 

When considering two of the world’s top vaulters, it’s no surprise that Mykayla Skinner and Giulia Steingruber come to mind. While there is a subtle difference in degrees of difficulty and skills, both gymnasts execute their vaults at the highest of levels, propelling them above their competition, and proving them to be one of the top vault match-ups.