DIPA KARMAKAR
There is a move in artistic gymnastics known as the “vault of death”. The name is enough to dissuade young gymnasts. It involves a series of complicated manoeuvres: a front handspring off the vault, followed by two-anda-half somersaults in the air before the gymnast lands on two feet. What makes the vault so dangerous? If not performed with high skill and precision, the move can prove costly. The gymnast can end up with a broken neck or some other serious career-ending injury. Some professionals who attempted it did actually suffer such a fate.
The vault was successfully performed for the first time by the Russian gymnast Yelena Produnova in 1999, after which it came to be known by her last name. Till today, there are only five gymnasts in the world who have successfully pulled off the high-risk Produnova vault. Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar is one of them.
The world watched her perform this most difficult of vaults in sporting history at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Months ahead of the event, Karmakar’s coach Bishweshwar Nandi was convinced that the Produnova vault would help her gain glory at the Games.
“I and my coach wanted to win a medal for India,” Karmakar told Guardian 20. “We knew we had to do it anyhow and this vault was the answer. It was considered dangerous, but it could get us the points. So we chose it. It required a lot of practice.”
So she set out preparing for a move most gymnasts are scared of even attempting. “I was always ready to do the Produnova vault. I did not have any inhibitions. I always want to try difficult vaults. I was ready to put in the effort and worked continuously on my fitness and speed. I learned from the original routine of Elena Produnova by watching her videos. I was enthusiastic about executing the vault on the world stage. There was no element of fear. I am lucky that I got a coach like Nandi Sir and he is a big reason why I was able to perform the vault. My family supported me too. The journey was really tough but I have made it till here only because of their support. Today, people know me because of the Produnova vault.”
Hailing from Agartala, Tripura, the 25-year-old is the first Indian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics and win medals in various international competitions. She finished fourth in Women’s