Media contributions
1Media contributions
Title Waarom is een perfecte landing bij het turnen zo moeilijk? Degree of recognition International Media name/outlet De Standaard Media type Print Country/Territory Belgium Date 29/07/24 Description "Nina Derwael secured gold on the uneven bars in Tokyo with an impressive routine. However, her landing wasn’t flawless; she needed a small extra step. This is not unusual among top gymnasts. But why is the landing particularly challenging?
According to Tim Exell, a biomechanics professor at the University of Portsmouth, two factors contribute to the difficulty: rules and the limits of the human body. "When you jump from a height, your natural instinct is to spread your feet apart, bend your knees, and allow all your joints to work together to absorb the impact. However, gymnastics rules require a different approach: feet must land together, and excessive bending is not allowed." Trained gymnasts can achieve this, but there are limits. "Mechanically, it’s like a set of springs working together. Ideally, muscles should not all contract simultaneously but with a slight difference in timing."
To land neatly and maintain balance, gymnasts shouldn’t practice standing still, says Stefan Deckx, a rehabilitation scientist and coach for Belgian Olympians. "Basic physics comes into play: when an object falls to the ground, it bounces back. The greater the mass and acceleration due to gravity, the more force is needed to counteract the rebound. To stay connected to the ground, gymnasts must perform eccentric, braking muscle movements." This counteraction must match the ground reaction force. "Anticipation is crucial; reacting too late won’t suffice."
Another complexity is considering the effect of rotation, as Exell points out. Precision matters. Under-rotating leads to an incomplete landing, while over-rotation prevents a graceful stop.
As gymnasts increasingly collaborate with scientists, they improve their landings, according to Exell. However, as a consequence, exercises become more complex and challenging, pushing the limits once again. "Fortunately, injuries are not common, but they do occur when timing or positioning isn’t entirely perfect, preventing muscles, joints, or ligaments from absorbing the shock."
Fatigue at the end of the routine also plays a role, says Marleen Van Dooren, who judged at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympics. "Additionally, each exercise’s landing varies slightly."
A less-than-perfect landing can cost a medal, especially since the differences are often small. "It’s not just about deduction points for the landing, but also considering what led to the suboptimal landing. Often, earlier elements in the routine, such as the height of the somersault, play a role", says Van Dooren.
For women, landing presents an extra complexity. Men can land with feet apart, then immediately close their heels. Women must land with feet together. "Our research suggests that this is more demanding for women, prompting us to advocate for adjusting the rule", says Exell.
The question remains: Is there too much emphasis on landings? To non-experts, an imperfect landing stands out more than sloppy execution or a lower level of difficulty. "Sometimes, unfortunately, it becomes the sole focus", says tumbling coach Tine Van Bossuyt. "However, a well-executed landing demonstrates perfect control, and gymnasts take pride in achieving it. Winning with a ‘stuck landing’ is the pinnacle.""URL https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20240725_96162609 Persons Timothy Exell