Gymnastics Pike: Definition, Technique & Applications

In women's artistic gymnastics, a pike refers to a body position when the gymnast has straight legs and straight arms that are pointed backward, resembling a pike fish underwater.

When performing elements from the vault, uneven bars, or floor, gymnasts aim to attain a straight line from their shoulders to their feet, with shoulders and thighs parallel to the apparatus or the ground, and toes pointed.

The pike is one of the three basic body positions in gymnastics, along with the straight and bent positions. Each of these positions requires control and strength to execute well and is fundamental to various acrobatic skills and tumbling passes in gymnastics routines.