Recently the sports world took note of a remarkable feat: American gymnast Simone Biles became the first woman to complete a Yurchenko double pike in competition. On the one hand, this is clearly something to celebrate. Biles is a rare athlete who stands head and shoulders above her competition. Any time an athlete dominates his or her sport – consider Mike Tyson, Serena Williams, or Michael Jordan – fans and competitors alike take notice.
On the other hand, Biles was not the first person to accomplish this feat. Curiously, it’s not easy to locate a definitive list of men who have completed the maneuver. An email to the office of USA Gymnastics reveals that the uncertainty is not limited to casual observers. A vice president of the organization came up with a short list going back to 2002 but added this caveat: “There may have been others, but I’m not sure of who or when.”
Read Full Article »