Korbut Flip

There are two gymnastics skills that are known by the name Korbut Flip. Both are extremely difficult, and were first performed by Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut. cite news|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1054998/Korbut-flip|title=Korbut flip|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate=2008-08-21]

The first is performed on the uneven bars. The gymnast stands on the high bar, performs a back flip into open air, and catches the bar again. When Korbut performed it at the 1972 Summer Olympics, it was the first backwards release move ever attempted on the uneven bars. In 1977, Soviet gymnast Elena Mukhina modified the flip by adding a full twist. The movement was later modified in the 1980s when it was performed towards the low bar; that is, the gymnast's flip takes place above the bars rather than behind them.

The Korbut Flip on uneven bars is no longer allowed in gymnastics competition because it involves standing on the high bar, a maneuver which is now illegal in the Code of Points.

The second move is a standing back somersault performed on the balance beam. This movement has been modified many times to includes twists, to land straddling the beam, or to be performed in sequence with other movements. This movement is still considered exceptionally difficult.

References