The women's uneven bars have changed drastically as an apparatus. Throughout the years they have become wider and wider to allow the gymnasts more space to do release moves similar to the men's high bar. In this photo, the bars are pictured in 1984, when they were still quite close.
The Uneven Bars: Narrow
(An Illustrated History of Olympic Gymnastics)
From Amy Van Deusen, About.com
Mary Lou Retton (USA) competes on the uneven bars at the 1984 Olympic Games
© Trevor Jones / Getty Images©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.
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