What is the dead loop in gymnastics and why is the Korbut flip manoeuvre banned in the Olympics?

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.

Getty - Contributor

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:

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.

BBC

The dead loop is named after Olga Korbut[/caption]

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.