Today we're continuing our series on named skills in elite gymnastics with release moves on bars. These are skills that have officially been named for an elite gymnast and is listed in the current Code of Points.

This is part 1 of our series on release moves, focusing specifically on skills where there is flight over the high bar (think Tkatchevs!) What’s your favorite release move from the list below? Is there one you’d like to see competed more often? Let us know in the comments section below!


Volpi / Wenning
Named for: Giulia Volpi (Italy) / Wenning Zhang (China)
Competed at: 1991 World Championships
Description of skill: Swing backward with free stoop or straddle vault and ½ turn over HB to hang
Value of skill: C (0.30)

Church
Named for: Shavahn Church (Great Britian)
Competed at: 2005 World Championships
Description of skill: Toe-on piked Tkatchev
Value of skill: D (0.40)
Other Gymnast who has competed this skill: Elizabeth Price (USA)

Davydova
Named for: Elena Davydova (Soviet Union)
Competed at: 1980 Olympic Games
Description of skill: Long swing forward, counter straddle-reverse hecht over HB (Tkatchev)
*Note: This skill is more commonly referred to as a “Tkatchev” - Davydova was the first female gymnast to perform the skill and thus is credited in the WAG Code of Points.
Value of skill: D (0.40)

Li Li
Named for: Li Li (China)
Competed at: 1991 World Championships
Description of skill: German giant into reverse hecht
Value of skill: D (0.40)

Monckton
Named for: Mary-Anne Monckton (Australia)
Competed at: 2011 World Championships
Description of skill: Long swing forward with ½ turn, pike vault over HB to hang
Value of skill: D (0.40)

Ray
Named for: Elise Ray (USA)
Competed at: 1999 World Championships
Description of skill: Toe-on straddled Tkatchev
Value of skill: D (0.40)
Other Gymnast who has performed this skill: Brenna Dowell (USA)

Galante
Named for: Paola Galante (Italy)
Competed at: 2009 World Championships
Description of skill:Inbar stalder through handstand to Tkatchev
Value of skill: E (0.50)
Other Gymnast who has performed this skill: Ashton Locklear (USA) in training

Hindorff
Named for: Silvia Hindorff (East Germany)
Competed at: 1978 World Championships
Description of skill: Clear hip circle on HB to Tkatchev
Value of skill: E (0.50)
Other Gymnast who has performed this skill: Chellsie Memmel (USA)

Kononenko
Named for: Nataliya Kononenko (Ukraine)
Competed at: 2011 World Championships
Description of skill: Long swing forward, Tkatchev with ½ turn to hang on HB in mixed grip
Value of skill: E (0.50)

Ricna
Named for: Hanna Ricna (Czechoslovakia)
Competed at: 1983 World Championships
Description of skill: Stalder through to handstand to straddled Tkatchev
Value of skill: E (0.50)
Other Gymnast who has performed this skill: Bailie Key (USA)

Shushunova
Named for: Elena Shushunova (Soviet Union)
Competed at: 1986 World Cup
Description of skill: Long swing forward with ½ turn and further ½ turn to counter straddle in flight over HB to hang
Value of skill: E (0.50)
Other Gymnast who has performed this skill: Anna Li (USA)

Downie
Named for: Rebecca Downie (Great Britain)
Competed at: 2010 World Championships
Description of skill: Stalder through to handstand to piked Tkatchev
Value of skill: F (0.60)
Other Gymnast who has competed this skill: Laurie Hernandez (USA)

Shang
Named for: Shang Chunsong (China)
Competed at: 2013 World Championships
Description of skill: Clear hip circle on HB to piked Tkatchev
Value of skill: F (0.60)
Other Gymnast who has performed this skill: Becky Downie (Great Britain)

Tweddle
Named for: Beth Tweddle (Great Britain)
Competed at: 2008 Olympic Games
Description of skill: Toe-on Tkatchev with ½ turn
Value of skill: F (0.60)
Other Gymnast who has performed this skill: Brenna Dowell (USA)

Nabieva
Named for: Tatiana Nabieva (Russia)
Competed at: 2010 World Championships
Description of skill: Toe-on laid out Tkatchev
Value of skill: G (0.70)


Related:
A Guide to Named Bars & Beam Dismounts