Simone Biles, widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, has added another extraordinary element to her repertoire in 2023: the Yurchenko double pike. This move, now officially named after her, showcases her unmatched athletic ability and technical skill.
What is a Yurchenko?
A Yurchenko is a type of vault in gymnastics, named after the Soviet gymnast Natalia Yurchenko, who first performed it in the early 1980s.
This vault is characterized by a unique combination of a round-off onto the springboard and a back handspring onto the vaulting table.
After this, the gymnast executes a series of somersaults and twists. A powerful push off the vaulting table provides the necessary height for a safe landing.
Key Components of a Yurchenko Vault
- Round-off Entry: The gymnast performs a round-off (similar to a cartwheel with a half twist) onto a springboard.
- Back Handspring onto the Vaulting Table: After the round-off, the gymnast immediately performs a back handspring to propel themselves onto the vaulting table.
- Post-Flight: Following the push-off from the vaulting table, the gymnast can execute various flips and twists before landing.
Variations
Yurchenko vaults can be performed with different post-flight elements, greatly influencing the vault’s difficulty and final score. Some common variations include:
- Yurchenko Layout: The gymnast performs a straight body flip (layout) after the push-off.
- Yurchenko Full: A layout with a full twist (360-degree rotation).
- Yurchenko Double Twist: A layout with two full twists (720-degree rotation).
- Yurchenko Double Pike: A double backward somersault in a pike position, as performed by Simone Biles and named the Biles II.
Since gymnasts approach the vault without seeing it, mastering this move requires significant skill and practice.
Yurchenko Double Pike: The Fifth Element Named After Simone Biles
The Yurchenko double pike vault begins with a traditional Yurchenko approach, which includes a round-off onto the springboard followed by a back handspring onto the vaulting table.
However, the twist comes in the next phase. Instead of a standard somersault, Biles performs two full backflips in a pike position. The pike position means that her legs are straight and her body is bent at the hips, requiring immense core strength and precision.
Difficulty and Value
The Yurchenko double pike is one of the most difficult vaults in gymnastics. The gymnast must achieve significant height to complete two full rotations before landing. This requires an explosive push off the vaulting table, with precise timing and technique.
- Difficulty Score: The Yurchenko double pike is rated with a difficulty value of 6.4 by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), making it one of the most challenging vaults in women’s gymnastics.
- Risk Factor: Due to its high difficulty, it carries a significant risk of under-rotation or poor landing, which can result in major deductions or even injuries.
Why is it Named After Simone Biles?
In gymnastics, new elements are named after the gymnasts who perform them successfully at a major competition for the first time.
Simone Biles first showcased this vault at the 2021 U.S. Classic, but it was officially recognized and named after her at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp. She’s the first woman to perform this skill in an international competition.
Her flawless execution of this incredibly challenging vault was a historic moment, earning her yet another skill named after her: the “Biles II.”
How Many Gymnastics Elements Named after Simone Biles?
So far, there are five gymnastics elements named after Simone Biles. These elements are recognized across different apparatuses:
- The Biles (Floor Exercise): A double layout with a half twist.
- The Biles (Balance Beam): A double-twisting double backflip dismount.
- The Biles (Vault): A round-off, half-on, front layout double twist.
- The Biles II (Floor Exercise): A triple-twisting double backflip.
- The Biles II (Vault): The Yurchenko double pike.
With five gymnastics elements named after her, Biles has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible, setting new standards for difficulty and excellence across multiple apparatuses.
