Is podium competition dangerous?

Ridiculous question, right? Still, as a spectator, gymnastics competition on a podium makes me nervous. At times the podium itself seems more dangerous than the acrobatics performed on it!

Case in point: Deng Shoujie's second vault during event finals at the recently concluded Chinese National Games.

Deng Shoujie, 2009 Chinese National Games Event Finals, Vault:

Yikes!

Gymnastics fans will easily recall the image of Paul Hamm struggling to land his vault and practically sitting in a judge's lap during the all-around competition at the 2004 Olympics. (Just in case that doesn't ring any bells, see the video below at about 1:55.)

I cannot help but think that if the judges table hadn't been right there blocking the podium, Hamm might have been injured.

But the best -- and worst -- video I could find about gymnasts falling off the podium comes courtesy of current NCAA all around champion and U.S. World team member Steven Legendre, who lost his footing on floor during the 2006 U.S. Championships and fell head over heels off the podium, taking an AT&T sign down with him.

Steven Legendre, 2006 U.S. Championships, Floor:

That being said, I do not advocate getting rid of the podium, which adds a sense of excitement for both athletes and spectators. But maybe the podium should extend a little farther from the apparatuses, to ensure falls like the ones posted above don't ever happen.

At least Deng seemed amused by the whole situation. She giggled, stuck out her tongue and even saluted the judges off the podium after an official broke her fall.