The International Gymnastics Federation has a laughable record for bungling skills named after gymnasts.
In my copy of the code of points they misspell Shavahn Church‘s name. (Some might quibble that she should be listed as British since she competed internationally for England.)
Church Savannah (USA) Hstd on HB – Pike sole circle bwd counter pike reverse hecht over HB to hang
Click PLAY or watch the Church (2005) on YouTube.
Elise Ray has 3 skills named after her on Bars including this one:
Ray Elise (USA) Hstd on HB – Pike sole circle bwd counter straddle-reverse hecht over HB to hang
Click PLAY or watch the Ray (2000) on YouTube.
That brings us to the skill done recently by Tatiana Nabieva …
It’s at 6min 20sec on this YouTube clip from Japanese TV. Or you can jump directly to that skill here.
You could call it a layout Church … if you give it credit for layout. I do.
Hopefully Tatiana will get it named after her good self. Gymnastics immortality.
7 comments ↓
1. Is a normal layed out reverse hecht in the books (regardless of sole circle)?
2. Do men get different tricks for connecting with a toe on? Why, why not?
Interesting…I’ve thought all this time that Shavahn Church’s skill WAS considered laid-out. In fact, this commentator refers to it as a “straight” Tcatchev as well. It always looked like she was at least trying to lay it out, and I could see giving it credit for a laid out position, although she pikes some at the regrasp phase. Nabieva’s is clearly more laid out, but I had no idea Nabieva’s was being considered a brand new skill until everyone starting calling it the “Nabieva.”
Church was hoping to have hers credited as a layout but it wasn’t, Nabieva’s clearly is though. It’s awesome ><
How do you get a move named after yourself? Do you have to compete it at World staged event or can you just submit a video of you performimg it to the FIG. With todays technology it would make sense to be able to submit it for consideration before competing it. This would avoid competing it at a lower level comp only to have someone else copy it and then get recognition for your skill as has happened in the past.
Normally it needs be done at Olympics or World Championships first. But there have been exceptions, ommissions and outright mistakes. over the decades. MAG has done a far better job than WAG.
honestly anyone who is trying to say that the church is anywhere near the skill that nabieva does is watching some videos that i’m not. nabieva’s is stretched when she crosses over the bars but she does pike a bit when going for the regrasp. church remains piked as she crosses over the bars and is nowhere near the height nabieva gets.
i hope that nabieva throws more power in this and giants out of it, perhaps a giant full.
…or maybe just connect it to a regular tkatchev for good measure haha
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