International Gymnastics Federation approves 9 new elements for the Code of Points
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) officially announced nine new elements that will be added to the men’s and women’s Code of Points (COP) this week after being successfully competed this year.
Headlining the skills is the Biles II – aka the Yurchenko double pike – which was finally named after Simone Biles more than two years after she competed it for the first time at the U.S. Classic in 2021. It is her fifth named skill.
In total, there were nine new elements (four women’s, five men’s) approved by the FIG this week. This is in addition to two new skills added earlier this year from juniors Nakamura Haruka (JPN) and Dachi Dolidze (GEO).
Ana Barbosu (ROU) also successfully performed a new element on floor at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships – the scissors leap forward (legs above horizontal) – but because the element has an A value, it is not eligible to be named after her.
New elements that surpass a set difficulty threshold are eligible to be named after the creator in the COP. This is a way to honor those progressing the sport by giving them eternal recognition for their contribution to gymnastics.
The process for getting an element named is as follows:
- Gymnast submits a video of themself doing the element for the men’s or women’s technical committee to evaluate.
- The skill is awarded a value and given a value.
- If the skill surpasses the difficulty threshold, the gymnast must then perform the element without a major error (fall, under-rotation, etc.) at an international, FIG-sanctioned event like a world cup, world championships, or Olympic Games.
Keep reading to learn about the new elements.
WAG
The Biles II
- Named after: Simone Biles (USA)
- Competed at: World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp (BEL)
- Apparatus: Vault
- Element description: roundoff back-handspring on – double pike off
- Element value: 6.4 difficulty score
- Note: This element is the Biles II on vault because Biles had another skill named after her on vault in 2018 – the Biles/Biles I aka a Yurchenko half on – double full off.
The Godwin
- Named after: Georgia Godwin (AUS)
- Competed at: FIG World Challenge Cup in Tel Aviv (ISR) and Osijek (CRO)
- Apparatus: Uneven bars
- Element description: Clear hip circle forward to handstand with 1/1 turn (360°) in handstand phase (Weiler kip)
- Element value: E
The Nemour
- Named after: Kaylia Nemour (ALG)
- Competed at: African Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Pretoria (RSA)
- Apparatus: Uneven bars
- Element description: Clear pike circle backward with counter stretched – reverse hecht in layout position over high bar to hang aka inbar Nabieva.
- Element value: G
The Moerz
- Named after: Alissa Moerz (AUT)
- Competed at: European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antalya (TUR)
- Apparatus: Floor exercise
- Element description: Pike Jump with 1/1 turn (360°) landing in front lying support
- Element value: C
Named earlier in 2023: The Nakamura
- Named after: Nakamura Haruka (JPN)
- Competed at: World Junior Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antalya (TUR)
- Apparatus: Uneven bars
- Element description: Swing forward with half turn (180 degrees) and salto forward piked aka piked Deltchev.
- Element value: D (0.4 difficulty)
MAG
The Minami
- Named after: Minami Kazuki (JPN)
- Competed at: FIG World Cup in Doha (QAT)
- Apparatus: Floor exercise
- Element description: Double salto backward with 3.5 twists (7/2 turn) aka 3.5-twisting double back.
- Element value: H
The Reid
- Named after: Michael Reid (JAM)
- Competed at: Pan American Championships in Medellin (COL)
- Apparatus: Pommel horse
- Element description: Travel backward in cross support over both pommels in flairs with hop.
- Element value: E
The Zou 2
- Named after: Zou Jingyuan (CHN)
- Competed at: World University Games in Chengdu (CHN)
- Apparatus: Still rings
- Element description: From inverted cross, lower slowly to inverted hang and felge backward slowly to support scale, holding for two seconds.
- Element value: E (0.5 difficulty)
- Note: This element is the Zou 2 on rings because Zou had another skill named after him on rings in 2022 – the Zou/Zou 1: from inverted cross, lower slowly to inverted hang and felge backward slowly to V-cross.
The Jarman
- Named after: Jake Jarman (GBR)
- Competed at: FIG World Challenge Cup in Paris (FRA)
- Apparatus: Floor exercise
- Element description: Double salto straight backward with 3 1/2 turn aka 3.5-twisting double layout.
- Element value: I (0.9 difficulty)
The Valverde
- Named after: Andres Valverde (CRC)
- Competed at: Pan American Games in Santiago (CHI)
- Apparatus: High bar
- Element description: Double salto straight dismount with 2/1 turn over the bar.
- Element value: E (0.5 difficulty)
Named earlier in 2023: The Dolidze
- Named after: Dachi Dolidze (GEO)
- Competed at: World Junior Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antalya (TUR)
- Apparatus: Pommel horse
- Element description: From pommels, circle with 90 degree turn to Russian wendeswing 270 on one pommel to handstand.
- Element value: D (0.4 difficulty)
