What does a gymnast have to do on the rings?
I · Intermediate · The men's apparatus · 7 of 9Combine swing, strength and hold elements in roughly equal parts on two rings hanging from cables. Every hold must last two seconds, with straight arms and a still body. A swing to a held handstand is required. A hold of less than two seconds loses execution points, and one with no stop at all is not counted.
How it works
- The mix: "swing, strength and hold parts in approximately equal portions".
- Group I: kips, swings and swings through or to a handstand held for two seconds.
- Group II: strength elements and hold elements, held for two seconds.
- Group III: swings to a strength hold, held for two seconds.
- Group IV: dismounts.
- Required: one swing to a handstand with a two-second hold, among the eight counting elements.
- Two seconds: a shorter hold is a medium error. No stop is a large error and the element is not recognised.
- Straight arms: "must be used whenever the nature of the element permits".
- The start: from a still hang, arms and body vertical. "The coach is not permitted to give the gymnast an initial swing."
- Not too many in a row: no more than three strength or hold elements may follow each other directly. A fourth is treated as a repetition.
- One of each: only one final strength position of each type counts in each of groups II and III.
- Swinging cables: excessive swing of the cables is an execution error.
- Wrists: bending the wrists over the rings to help a strength hold costs 0.1 each time.
The glossary has the still rings, the hold, the element group, the dismount, the non-recognition entry and the stick.
Tricky cases
A gymnast holds a cross for one second and moves on. Does it count?
Yes, with a medium deduction. With no visible stop at all, it is a large error and the element earns no value.
His arms are bent in a strength hold. Is the element still counted?
It depends on how bent. A strength hold performed with significantly bent arms may be refused by the D jury, and smaller bends are execution errors.
Can he do five different strength holds one after another?
No. After three in direct succession, he needs a swing element of at least B value before another one will be recognised.
His coach lifts him to the rings. Is that help penalised?
No. The gymnast may jump or be assisted to a still hang. The coach may not start him swinging.
Why the rule exists
The rings move, so stillness is the proof of strength: two seconds is long enough to show that a position is held and not passed through. The limit of three strength elements in a row keeps swing in the exercise. Without it the event would become a display of holds.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rings | Swing, strength and hold in equal parts | FIG MAG 12.1 |
| Pommel horse | Strength and hold not permitted | FIG MAG 11.1 |
| Horizontal bar | Swing only, no stops | FIG MAG 15.2.1 |
| Women | No rings | FIG WAG sections 10 to 13 |
From the rule book
Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, Code of Points 2025-2028, MAG articles 9.2 and 12. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: 2025-2028 Code of Points, Women's Artistic Gymnastics and Men's Artistic Gymnastics (PDF).