Probably many athletics fans have heard of Olga Korbut’s loop. And it’s no secret that this element is prohibited in gymnastics . Why is the Korbut loop prohibited ? In the article you will find the answer to this question.
The first steps of the future star in gymnastics
The outstanding Soviet athlete from Belarus Olga Korbut was born on May 16, 1955 in Grodno. She made the decision to do gymnastics on her own. Since 1963, Olga began to visit the section of Yaroslav the King. However, her first mentors considered her overweight for this sport and took it reluctantly. Two years later, Olga was in the group of the legendary coach Renald Knysh, who was able to discern talent in the "fatty". The young student was very hardworking and only thought about doing gymnastics. Returning home in the evening after training, she imagined in her head how she would go to the gym again in the morning.
The first tangible achievement for Olga Korbut came in 1970 after winning the USSR championship in a vault. The noticeable progress of the athlete did not go unnoticed by the coaches who recorded her in the national team.
Loop Korbut
The world-famous element, which was named after the gymnast who first performed it, appeared during the training of Olga Korbut. She had fun on the uneven bars between classes and randomly performed a unique trick. Renald Knysch drew attention to him and, together with Olga, developed a loop. So this element was called - the Korbut loop. Why is it banned today? Now you will know about it.
The execution of a unique element originates from the upper crossbar of uneven bars. Standing on her legs, the athlete flew up into the air, performed a backflip and again returned to the upper pole, clinging to her hands. She performed such a unique trick so perfectly that it seemed as if the law of gravity did not work. For the thorough implementation of a dangerous and incredibly complex element, the gymnast took about five years of preparation. The first performance of the Korbut loop took place at the national championship in 1970. The fourteen-year-old athlete, who has not yet gained popularity, made a splash on the audience present. So why is the Korbut loop prohibited in gymnastics?
Olympics 72 in Munich
Olga Korbut received worldwide fame at the Olympic Games in Munich, which took place in 1972. Everyone was overjoyed after the young Soviet athlete with pigtails performed a unique element in gymnastics. The international media on their pages did not skimp on flattering epithets to Olga Korbut, who completely fulfilled the phenomenal element and became the Olympic champion. She was so loved by everyone that next year she was awarded the title of the best athlete in the world. No one was indifferent to the loop of Olga Korbut. Why was she banned? There were good reasons for this.
Prohibition of the execution of the Korbut loop
Watching the performance of the unique Korbut loop, the audience received an unforgettable experience. However, the performance of dangerous stunts significantly increased the likelihood of serious injury. According to Olga Korbut, when performing a dangerous element named in her honor, she was very afraid. Her heart literally fell into the netherworld of fear. So why is the Korbut loop prohibited?
Removing this element from gymnastics exercises was a matter of time until some of its performers were seriously injured. Another Soviet athlete Elena Mukhina improved the dangerous element by adding a screw to it.
The perfect Korbut loop is why forbidden? The reason is very serious ... In July 1980, Elena Mukhina was preparing for the 1980 Olympic Games, which were to be held in the USSR, and landed unsuccessfully in training, hitting her head on the floor surface. As a result of a complex exercise - a broken spine. Elena Mukhina for 26 years was forced to lie in bed, very limited in movement. Now it has become clear why the Korbut loop is forbidden. It is perhaps very difficult to disagree with this decision ...
In an attempt to get more points, athletes come up with elements that are difficult to perform, increasing the risk of injury in dangerous gymnastics. In order to avoid further serious injuries from sports gymnasts, the unique “Korbut loop” element was prohibited by the rules, as a result of which it can no longer be found in official competitions. That's why the Korbut loop is forbidden ...
In any case, the author of the element on the verge of high risk performed it phenomenally, capturing her name in the history of sports.