Rings Maltese Cross Meaning in Gymnastics

A rings Maltese cross is a horizontal strength hold position. The gymnast holds the body parallel to the floor in air. The arms are spread wide to the sides like a cross. The body remains straight from the head down to the toes. This move is harder than an iron cross due to leverage. The gymnast must stay perfectly still for at least two seconds. A gymnast executes a Maltese cross during a world class routine. The athlete must use extreme shoulder and chest power to stay up. Keeping the legs together ensures a clean and professional body line. The gymnast must look at the floor to maintain steady balance. Judges look for a perfectly flat body position during the hold. This skill earns a very high difficulty score for the athlete. Strong back muscles help the athlete keep the hips from dropping. The gymnast must squeeze every muscle to prevent any small wobbles. Proper ring grip is essential for maintaining the horizontal cross shape.