Liukin Release (High Bar)

The Liukin is a release skill in which the gymnast pikes around the bar, lets go, rotates backward, and re-catches the bar. The skill is named after Soviet gymnast Valeri Liukin.

The gymnast's hands leave the bar during the flight phase before the bar is re-caught. That separation distinguishes it from a continuous swing or turn performed while maintaining contact.

The name is associated with a release element performed on the high bar and related bar apparatus terminology. In competition, the exact difficulty value depends on the applicable Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique code and the recognized version of the element.

The gymnast must control a backward rotation while maintaining enough height and distance to clear the bar safely. The piked body position also has to open at the right moment for a precise re-catch.