The Olympic Artistic Gymnastics competition has four phases: qualification, Team final, Individual All-Around final and individual apparatus finals.
All gymnasts compete in the qualifications. The best eight teams then go through to the Team final, where three team members compete on each apparatus. Teams are ranked on their total score.
The best 24 individual gymnasts (maximum two from each country) go through to the Individual All-Around final, where gymnasts compete on all apparatus. The best eight gymnasts on each apparatus (maximum two from each country) go through to the individual apparatus finals.
Each apparatus is judged for difficulty and execution, with the highest scoring athlete the winner.
The parallel bars are 2m high and 3.5m long. They require a combination of swinging movements, swings, and handstands demanding strength. The gymnast must travel the full length of the apparatus and work on the top of the bars as well as below them.
For further information please refer to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
Find out more about the Artistic Gymnastics competition at the Olympic Games on the International Olympic Committee website.
