Chow (Uneven Bars)

The uneven bars release skill is officially named after Amy Chow, an American Olympic medalist who competed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The skill is formally classified in the Code of Points as a stalder blind change into a piked Tkatchev. It was officially added to the FIG Code of Points under her name in 2003.

The Chow begins with the gymnast swinging in a stalder position on the low bar, doing a half turn (blind change) to re-grip. From there, she immediately launches into a piked Tkatchev release move, flying up and over the high bar. It is an incredibly complex acrobatic element requiring massive core strength and precise timing.

Under the current FIG Women's Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points, the Chow typically carries an E difficulty rating, which equates to 0.5 points toward the routine's difficulty score. This makes it a highly valuable skill for elite international gymnasts looking to boost their start values. The rating can fluctuate slightly depending on exact body positioning and connection bonuses.

Yes, there is a variation often referred to as the Chow 1/2 or a layout Chow, which increases the difficulty to an F rating. In this variation, the gymnast performs the Tkatchev release in a stretched, layout position rather than a piked position. It requires even more rotational speed and air awareness to execute safely.