EVERY time the Olympics is on, fans are left in awe at the gymnastic events.
But one flip manoeuvre that won’t feature at Paris 2024 is the dead loop. Here we take you through why it is banned and who originally introduced it.
The dead loop is banned in gymnastics[/caption]What is the dead loop in gymnastics?
The dead loop, also known as the Korbut Flip, is a daring and dangerous move in gymnastics.
This tricky manoeuvre involves a gymnast swinging around the horizontal bar, releasing their grip, and re-grasping the bar.
This has to be performed in a seamlessly effortless motion.
To pull of the dead loop correctly, it requires timing, strength, and body control.
Why is the dead loop banned in Olympics?
The dead loop will not feature at Paris 2024 as it is no longer allowed at the Olympics.
The reason this flip is banned is because it can cause serious injury, due to its complexity.
Because if the high level of risk involved in performing the dead loop it has been banned from competitive gymnastics since the 1980s.
These are the risks involved in performing the dead loop:
- Any miscalculation in timing can result in the gymnast missing the bar and falling, which can lead to serious injuries.
- There is a big risk of head and neck injuries.
- The flip involves a rapid change in motion and direction, resulting in high impact forces on the gymnast’s body which can cause long-term damage or injuries.
- The intense focus that is required to complete the dead loop can cause psychological pressure on gymnasts.
Who was the Korbut flip named after?
The dead loop is also known as the Korbut flip.
It is named after the Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut, and was first introduced in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
This skill became a signature move for Korbut and inspired many gymnasts around the world.
Because of it, she won four gold medals and two silver medals at the 1972 and 1976 Games for the Soviet team
Who has performed the dead loop?
Over the years, several gymnasts have managed to master this difficult move.
These five athletes all competed in the 70s and 80s and were known for the dead loop:
- Radka Zemanova – A Czechoslovakian gymnast who was known for her performances on uneven bars, including the dead loop.
- Steffi Kraker – A German gymnast who won a silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
- Natalia Shaposhnikova – This Soviet gymnast was a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a four-time World Champion.
- Emily May – This Australian gymnast was known for her bold and energetic routines.
- Lyubov Bogdanova – Another Soviet gymnast who executed the dead loop in her uneven bars routines.
Which moves have replaced the dead loop?
After the dead loop was banned, a number of new moves were introduced.
All of them are designed to show off a gymnast’s skill and perfect timing:
- Tkatchev – This manoeuvre is named after the Russian gymnast Aleksandr Tkatchev and is performed on uneven bars.
- Gienger – German gymnast Eberhard Gienger developed this move and it involves a backflip with a half twist before re-grasping the bar.
- Bhardwaj – This incredible move was created by Indian-American gymnast Mohini Bhardwaj and involves a full twisting Pak salto between the bars on the uneven bars.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
One of the hottest spectacles of Paris 2024 is the 1500m men’s final (7.50pm) – will it be gold for either Josh Kerr or Jakob Ingebrigtsen in their epic rivalry?
World champion Sky Brown, now 16, wants to upgrade her Tokyo bronze to Paris gold in the women’s park skateboarding final but is battling back from a dislocated shoulder (4.30pm).
Ben Maher on board Dallas Vegas Batilly is into the final of the individual jumping equestrian alongside Harry Charles and Scott Brash after coming through the 74-rider qualifying and could defend his Tokyo gold after already securing the team title in Paris (9am).
BRITS TO WATCH
Jack Laugher goes in the 3m springboard diving preliminaries with Jordan Houlden (9am) before Andrea Spendolini Sirieix goes in the 10m platform final (2pm).
Lewis Richardson is already guaranteed a bronze in the 71kg boxing but has his semi-final at Roland Garros at 8.45pm.
The women’s 200m gives Dina Asher-Smith a chance to make up for her disappointing 100m result (final 8.40pm).
Jack Carlin, Ed Lowe and Hamish Turnbull team up in the track cycling men’s team sprint today with the final at 7.10pm, hoping to wrestle back the gold they won in Beijing, London and Rio.
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
Emma Hayes’ USA women’s football team face Germany in the semi-final in Lyon (5pm).
Kellie Harrington will go for back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the ring with the Irish star’s 60kg final vs China’s Yang Wenlu at 10pm – two bouts after Imane Khelif’s 66kg semi-final.
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
It wouldn’t be the Olympics without some wrestling would it?
There is both freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines throughout the day at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
STATS MAD
A Hoy Where? For the first time since Atlanta 1996, the Team GB cycling track team will neither feature a certain Sir Chris Hoy nor Sir Jason Kenny. Just the 16 Olympic medals between those two legends, 13 of them gold.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.