Simone Biles showcased her exceptional vault effortlessly at the 2023 World Gymnastics Championship’s opening day. She made history as the first woman to successfully perform the Yurchenko double pike vault in an international competition. Biles earned a score of 15.266 achieving is a testament to her unparalleled skills and dedication. In the world of gymnastics, the Yurchenko Double Pike is said to be the most challenging vault.
The Yurchenko Double Pike involves a gymnast executing a round-off, back handspring, and two pike rotations in quick succession. In gymnastics, a pike involves bending the hips while keeping the knees straight and legs together during flight. A double-pike, the name itself says that it requires two rotations before hitting the ground. The deadly vault move seems way too dangerous which is why the American Judges almost banned it.
Simon Biles aced the YDP in the Gymnastics world
The Yurchenko Double Pike is notorious for its complexity and danger. To perform it, gymnasts must generate immense power off the vaulting table. They need to launch into the air and execute two pike rotations with precision. The risk lies in the potential for severe injuries, especially if the landing goes awry. Natalia Yurchenko was the first gymnast to perform this vault at the 1982 Moscow News competition. She won the last year’s International Gymnastics Federation at the World Cup. Because of the 1984 Olympic Games boycott, Yurchenko never had the opportunity to compete with her invention at the Olympics.
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 25: Simone Biles competes in the balance beam during Day Two of the U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center on August 25, 2023, in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Simone Biles solidified her status as a trailblazer in history by becoming the only female gymnast to ace the Yurchenko Double Pike. She made her first attempt at a competition at the 2021 US Classic. She successfully landed the vaults and gave birth to the new “Biles II” vault. Simone scored 14.949 from the incredible vault. Natalia Yurchenko recalled the debates surrounding her vault in the interview released by the official page of the Olympics. Some American judges initially opposed it due to safety concerns. The pike rotation’s challenge lies in the gymnast’s limited spatial awareness. But progressive coaches saw its potential for advancing vaulting in the future. Which later influenced judges and the technical committee to allow it in competition.
Yurchenko Double Pike made a comeback in the bars!
Natalia Yurchenko made her vault perfect and introduced it to international competition but initially faced controversy due to safety concerns. Simone Biles, performance involved not one, but two pike rotations, leaving no room for error. Executing two aerial rotations in the pike position is particularly challenging, requiring tremendous power off the vaulting table and a backflip position
The Yurchenko Double Pike is a daring and technically challenging vault in gymnastics, characterized by its high risk and reward. Its execution demands exceptional power, precision, and spatial awareness. Due to the potential for severe injury, only a select few gymnasts have attempted this remarkable maneuver in competitive gymnastics. This vault belongs to the Yurchenko family and starts with a gymnast performing a round-off onto the springboard. It is named after Soviet gymnast Natalia Yurchenko. She invented the move during the 1982 Gymnastics World Cup in Zagreb.
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