Did they change the vault apparatus in women's gymnastics?

Question

The vault looks twice as wide as it used to, did they make a change in the actual piece of equipment, or is it just imagination?

Answer 1

Yes, they changed it after the 2000 Olympics.  The new apparatus is called a "Vaulting Table", and it was designed to keep the athletes safer as they perform more difficult vaults.  

Answer 2

yep. it used to look like the pommel horse without the handles. now it looks like a big flattened mushroom lol

EDIT

Alan B copied that straight outta wikipedia lol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vault_(gymn...

Answer 3

The apparatus itself originated as a "horse", much like the pommel horse which remains in use, but without the handles; it was sometimes known as the vaulting horse. The horse was usually set up with its long dimension perpendicular to the run, but not in all cases. In the early 2000s, the design of top-level vaults was dramatically changed, and has continued to evolve. The modern vault is a flat surface almost parallel to the floor, but tilted slightly towards the run, which bends further downward at the end closest to the springboard. The shape varies with some being a rounded-rectangular shape, and others more triangular with the tip towards the springboard. The first use of the modern design in top-level competition came shortly after the 2000 Summer Olympics, including the 2001 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. The 2004 Summer Olympics was its first use in Olympic competition.