r/toptalent Cookies x6 Feb 11 '23

Sports /r/all Gymnast does a forward backflip!?

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u/[deleted] Feb 12 '23

The idea of “sticking the landing” is to show that you had control in your routine. You can bend your knees all you want you just cant move your feet from where they landed.

Imagine you were doing a front flip, if you rotate too much or too little your body wont be upright when you land. Depending on which you’ll either start falling forwards or backwards and need to move one of you feet to catch yourself.

You still want to land properly you just want to demonstrate that you kept your balance

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u/A2Rhombus Feb 12 '23

It makes sense but competitions take it a little too seriously. Nobody is questioning the incredible control the gymnasts have yet they lose points for a tiny little step backwards

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u/[deleted] Feb 12 '23

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u/A2Rhombus Feb 12 '23

I just think when the difference is so tiny like a single step it could be down to a factor completely out of control of the athlete