In women’s artistic gymnastics, the floor exercise, distinguished as the fourth event in the Olympic sequence, offers gymnasts a unique showcase. Within a 12-meter square, athletes have 90 seconds to perform a complex array of acrobatic maneuvers, dance elements, and choreography.
Unlike their male counterparts, female gymnasts perform to music, allowing them to infuse the routine with personal flair and musical interpretation.
Let’s look at the top five challenging and crowd-pleasing skills in women’s floor gymnastics.
5. The Silivas
The Silivas, often referred to as the Silvas, stands as a hallmark skill in women’s gymnastics, pioneered by the esteemed Romanian gymnast, Daniella Silvas, in 1988.
This maneuver entails executing a double salto backward from a tucked position, intertwined with two twists, showcasing a remarkable blend of athleticism and precision.
Until 2012, it held a ‘G’ rating, but due to its technical demands, it was upgraded to ‘H’ in 2013, becoming a favorite among gymnasts for opening tumbling sequences.
4. The Chusovitina
In contrast, the Chusovitina, another demanding floor skill, consists of a double backward salto stretched with a full twist. Currently, it also boasts an ‘H’ rating and is named after the legendary Uzbek gymnast Oksana Chusovitna.
Initially, this skill was attributed to Tatiana Tuchkova, who performed it with a “full-in” technique. Oksana Chusovitna later perfected a “full-out” version, leading to the skill being named in her honor for some time.
The gymnastics community recognized both the “full-in” and “full-out” techniques in the Code of Points for a period, acknowledging their distinct technical elements. However, eventually, the differentiation was deemed unnecessary for skill identification purposes.
Since its elevation from ‘G’ to ‘H’ in 2013, similar to the Silivas, the skill has been officially recognized as the Chusovitina, a testament to its enduring relevance and the evolution of floor exercise in women’s gymnastics. This acknowledgment underscores the progression in gymnastics to streamline and refine the categorization of skills, enhancing both the clarity and fairness of the scoring system.
3. The Dos Santos II
the Dos Santos II, created by Brazilian world champion Diana Dos Santos, hasn’t experienced a similar uptick in participation. This skill, featuring an Arabian double salto executed in a stretched position, was introduced to the Code of Points in 2008 with a ‘G’ rating.
However, despite its upgrade to an ‘H’ rating, it remains notably rare in competition. As of 2021, Diana dos Santos is still the only gymnast who has attempted this demanding maneuver in official events, highlighting its complexity and the skill level required.
2. The Moors
Known also as the double-double layout, the Moors was introduced by Canadian gymnast Victoria Moors at the 2013 World Championships.
This skill, a double salto backward stretched with two twists, challenges even the most elite gymnasts and is classified with an ‘I’ rating.
Despite its technical demands, only a select few gymnasts have managed to execute this skill successfully in competition, underscoring its exclusivity and the high caliber of athleticism required.
1. The Biles II
At the pinnacle of floor exercise difficulty is the Biles II, introduced by Simone Biles in 2019. This skill, which some initially thought was only possible in men’s gymnastics, involves a double backward salto tucked with three full rotations, often referred to as a triple-twisting double tuck or simply a triple-double.
With this groundbreaking skill, Biles not only pushed the boundaries of what was deemed achievable in women’s gymnastics but also established a new category, the ‘J’ element, the first of its kind.
This element alone is worth a full point in gymnastic scoring, highlighting its exceptional difficulty and the innovation Biles continues to bring to the sport.
Which Skill Impresses You Most?
Each of these skills showcases the stunning progression and athletic prowess in women’s artistic gymnastics. They pose a formidable challenge to the gymnasts while captivating the audience, adding to the dynamic and evolving story of this sport.
Whether you’re awed by the technical finesse needed for the Moors or the bold daring of the Biles II, these moves epitomize the peak of gymnastic excellence.
