Americans historically have been great innovators on bars. Under appreciated is this Chinese superstar.
Liu was the first female gymnast to perform a one-arm giant swing on the uneven bars which is named after her in the Gymnastic’s Code of Points; she also performed this skill into a Geinger release move. …
In 2000, she was China’s first Olympic Champion on balance beam as well as China’s first All Around Medalist (after Andreea Răducan was disqualified from her gold medal due to a disqualification for taking an unlicensed cold medication, Liu moved up from 4th to the bronze medal position). …
It’s a shame that FIG stifled 1-arm giant skills by devaluing them. I think we will see skills like that return one day.
1996 Olympics Team Optionals showing 1-arm Geinger:
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Liu Xuan 2000 Cottbus Bars showing piked Jaeger half:
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
That’s similar (piked rather than straddled) to the skill we see done by He Kexin today. I expect it was inspired by Liu Xuan.
Liu Xuan – bio on China Culture
Gymnastics Coaching.com 