The floor exercise: a test of personality
The floor exercise in gymnastics is viewed as a true test of personality.
Like other teams, CMU showcases the many creative personalities that exist on the squad in the event.
“It is a lot of fun, you can play up to the crowd, you can show off your personality more,” said Sophomore Kristin Teubner.
The Exercise
The floor exercise is a 90-second routine where the gymnast must complete several difficult jumps and tumbles in order to score points. Typically, this event is the last rotation for the home team.
It completes these routines on a padded floor covering that stretches across 57 feet diagonally and 39 feet along each side. The springboard underneath the mat provides gymnasts with the ability to spring several feet into the air, much higher than off a regular floor.
Within that area, they must complete three tumbling passes, as well as a series of jumps. Connecting all of these with artistic dance elements is one area that CMU Coach Jerry Reighard said he enjoys because of the level of personality each gymnast must inject into their routines.
“Floor is the dance event, it really shows an athlete’s personality,” he said. “And we really take a lot of pride in developing that crowd-appealing part of the sport.”
The difficulty in this rotation is based on the moves a gymnast must complete and the skill level of her three tumbling passes. The judges key on several factors during the routine including eye contact, landing, pointed toes and bent legs.
“Every time you move after a landing, you’re going to receive a deduction,” Reighard said.
Despite the dance and graceful aspect of this particular rotation, a large mount of strength and power is needed in order to jump high enough to complete the necessary flips. The jumps are rated by body position and the number of twists that are accomplished. The greater amount of turns will be graded higher than others, and Reighard stresses the combination of jumps and turns in a routine.
“If you land and don’t immediately do the next skill, than it is not connected and you lose points for that,” he said.
Leading the Way
The Chippewas have achieved their No. 20 national ranking in the event behind event leaders Teubner, senior Katie Simon and freshmen Emily LaFontaine and Britney Taylor.
Teubner is tied for third place in the Mid-American Conference for high scores on the floor with a 9.875. Last weekend against Western Michigan, she paced the team with a 9.875. Simon finished second in the event, posting a 9.85, followed by LaFontaine with a 9.8 and junior Cheryl Conlin’s 9.75.
LaFontaine has increased her score in the exercise by .275 points since her first meet at Illinois state (9.525). Although still finding her niche on the floor, she said she enjoys the different aspects of the event.
“Its more of a performance,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about falling, so you just go out there with a lot of energy and perform.”
