The Most Difficult Floor Turns in Women's Gymnastics #floor #dance

The double wolf turn has become a very popular skill in recent years. It's valued at D and consists of two rotations in a tuck stand with the free leg straight throughout. The rules state that initiating the turn with a push from the hands on the floor is not permitted. A deduction we often see with this spin is the constant flailing of the arms during the rotations, which makes it look uncontrolled and takes away the smoothness of the element. Another deduction we often see, not only with the double wolf turn but with most turns in this list, is the failure to finish the rotation in the exact same place that it was initiated. For this reason, judges will take a tenth off the execution score due to a lack of precision. The double L turn is also a pretty common dance element in modern gymnastics. It carries a D rating and consists of a double spin with the free leg forward in a 90 degree horizontal position. The rules allow the turn to be performed with the leg straight or slightly bent, but most gymnasts choose the straight position, which is more aesthetically pleasing to watch. Multiple athletes also link it to a regular double turn for an extra tenth in connection bonus. One of the most frequent deductions that we'll find during its execution is the free leg dropping below 90 degrees, which incurs a one-tenth deduction for the small deviation from the ideal position. All turns must have a fixed and well-defined shape throughout. The Memel was submitted at the 2003 World Championships by American gymnast Chelsea Memel and carries a D rating as well. It consists of a double turn with the free leg held upward in a 180 degree split position, and the athlete is allowed to use the hands as support. In Chelsea's particular case, she only used one hand, but most gymnasts use both. Due to requiring a 180 degree leg separation, this spin favors the most flexible gymnasts and is often linked to an illusion turn, which increases the start value by a tenth. Dutch gymnast Ettore Thorstetter included both the double L turn and the Memel in a beautiful and original four-scale dance sequence that gave her three-tenths in bonus. The Semyonova consists of a double turn in back attitude with the thigh of the free leg at horizontal throughout. It was submitted by Russia's Ksenia Semyonova at the 2008 Beijing Games and was given a D rating. It's one of the most beautiful floor turns when properly executed, but it also requires a sharp technique. Few gymnasts have nailed it in competition, and most performances come from Russian or Dutch athletes, possibly due to their extensive ballet training. World champion Ksenia Afanasyeva linked the Semyonova to a double turn for an extra tenth in difficulty. The Berar is even more rare than the Semyonova and it also requires a lot more back flexibility. It consists of a double turn with the free leg held backward and upward with both hands and is named after Romania's Iulia Berar, who successfully performed it at the 2018 Youth Olympics qualifying competition. Olympic champion Catalina Ponor performed a very similar turn back in 2006. However, she only supported it with one hand during the first rotation and never submitted it at a World Championships or an Olympic Games, which were the only two options available for submitting new skills at the time. The Berar carries a D rating as well and is often referred to as a double scorpion turn. What's your favorite floor turn in women's gymnastics?