1. Yang Yun - CHN - 2000 Olympics - Team Final
This was the best vault in Sydney. Vault is a very explosive event, so it’s hard to make it look pretty. But this vault was absolutely stunning. Back then it was out of a 9.9 but these days it’s not as difficult anymore, which is why we haven’t seen it as often after Sydney.
2. Elena Zamolodchikova - RUS - 2000 Olympics - Event Finals
This was one of the best vaults in those Olympics. Zamo originally qualified for just the floor final. Then Elena Produnova got injured so Zamo got the chance to take her spot in the all-around. She would have won if she hadn’t stumbled on floor. Then Svetlana Khorkina gave up her spot in the vault final to give Zamo a chance for a gold medal, and this time she delivered.
3. Elena Produnova - RUS - 1999 University Games
This vault is the epitome of power. No one else has been able to perform this vault since Elena. People have tried, though. Yamilet Pena gave it a shot at the Worlds in Tokyo, but she landed on her back before her feet met the floor, so she was given a zero.
4. Mckayla Maroney - USA - 2010 Junior Nationals - Day 2
Mckayla is the only gymnast I have seen stick an Amanar. It’s difficult enough to put it to your feet, let alone stick it cold, and it’s a blind landing. Mckayla is fantastic. If she doesn’t make the team for London, she will be a shoo-in for Rio, if she stays in elite competition.
5. Cheng Fei - CHN - 2008 Olympics - Team Final
Cheng Fei is the best vaulter China has ever produced. She’s good enough to have a vault named after her. Her Amanar rivals Mckayla’s. The execution is perfect, and she gets amazing height.
6. Monica Rosu - ROM - 2004 Olympics - Event Finals
I couldn’t find a video of just her second vault. Monica did one of the best Amanar’s ever. It’s like Jade’s but with a smaller hop. She did the hardest vaults in the event final, so she very much deserved the vault title.
7. Jade Barbosa - BRA - 2007 Worlds - Team Final
I love Jade, I think she’s fantastic. That’s one of the best Amanars I’ve seen. I think it’s great for a country like Brazil, who’s not really in the gymnastics spotlight, to get this kind of recognition. Jade’s probably going to make the vault final in London.
8. Svetlana Khorkina - RUS - 2000 Olympics - Team Final
This is crazy. Svetlana had never performed this vault in competition before, not even in the qualifying round. Not only was this the first time she was performing this vault, but she stuck it cold.
9. Alicia Sacramone - USA - 2007 Worlds - Team Final
Alicia is a very powerful gymnast. She tends to overrotate her vaults, but here it was nearly a stick. I heard she was upgrading to a handspring double twist before she tore her Achilles. If she can do a double, she’ll be going to the Olympics. The start value is a tenth higher than an Amanar.
10. Nastia Liukin - USA - 2008 Olympics - All Around
Nastia is not a strong vaulter. She had higher start values on beam and bars. The other gymnasts were doing double twists and two and a half twists. If she was going to win the all-around, she needed a stuck vault, and she did it.