Korbut Flip (Uneven Bars)

The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) banned the standing backflip element of the Korbut Flip because it was deemed too dangerous. The skill required gymnasts to stand upright on the top uneven bar, risking severe spinal or head injuries if they slipped. The ban was enforced to prioritize athlete safety as the sport evolved.

Olga Korbut, representing the Soviet Union, first debuted the Korbut Flip at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Her acrobatics on the uneven bars revolutionized the sport, bringing unprecedented global attention to women's gymnastics. She successfully executed a backflip while standing on the high bar and re-grasping it.

The original standing backflip on the uneven bars is completely illegal in modern elite gymnastics. However, elements of dynamic flight originating from the feet on the bar inspired later, safer release moves. Modern bar routines now focus entirely on swings and swings into releases rather than standing elements.

The gymnast would stand on the high bar and jump backward into a backflip, catching the same bar upon completion. Unlike modern swing-based release moves, the move originated from a dead stop, relying entirely on explosive leg power and timing. This raw acrobatic execution is what made it so spectacular and uniquely perilous.