description Van Leeuwen Release Overview
The Van Leeuwen is a release move performed on the uneven bars in women's artistic gymnastics. It is named after the Dutch gymnast Suzanne van Leeuwen, who successfully completed the skill at an elite international competition to secure its inclusion in the FIG Code of Points. As a flight element, it requires the gymnast to let go of the bar and re-catch it, demanding significant aerial control and momentum. The skill carries a designated difficulty value that contributes to a gymnast's overall routine score.
help Van Leeuwen Release FAQ
What apparatus uses the Van Leeuwen?
The Van Leeuwen is a release and transition skill on the uneven bars in women's artistic gymnastics. It moves the gymnast from the lower bar to a catch on the high bar.
What does the Van Leeuwen look like?
It is based on a toe-on Shaposhnikova-style action through handstand with a half turn before the high-bar catch. The gymnast must release one bar, rotate, and regrasp the other bar cleanly.
Who is the Van Leeuwen named after?
The skill is named after Dutch gymnast Laura van Leeuwen. The catalog description's reference to Suzanne van Leeuwen appears to confuse the name of the gymnast associated with the element.
Why is the Van Leeuwen valuable in a bars routine?
It combines flight between the bars with a half turn, so it can contribute meaningful difficulty and connection options. In the 2022-24 FIG Code of Points, the Van Leeuwen was listed as an E-level element.
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