A cartwheel is a gymnastics move where you move sideways in a full circle, keeping your arms and legs straight like the spokes of a wheel. You start standing up, reach down to plant your hands on the ground one at a time, kick your legs up and over your head, and land back on your feet facing the direction you started from.

The move gets its name because your body forms the shape of a turning wheel, with your arms and legs as the spokes. When done well, a cartwheel looks smooth and controlled, though learning one takes practice. Most people first try cartwheels in gym class or on the playground, often wobbling or bending their legs until they get the hang of it.

Cartwheels are one of the foundational skills in gymnastics and cheerleading, but people also do them just for fun. Some kids can cartwheel across an entire lawn without stopping, while others prefer to master a single perfect one. The move requires coordination, balance, and a bit of courage to throw yourself sideways and trust that you'll land on your feet.

As a verb, to cartwheel means to do this move: you cartwheel across the grass or cartwheel down the mat.