Gym-tastic: Kiwi invents new move

Kiwi gymnast Mikhail Koudinov has invented a new move which is recognised by the International Federation of Gymnastics.

The federation announced the move, titled “the Koudinov”, would join six other new elements to be published in the International Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points.

The Koudinov, which adds a twist to a traditional move known as Gaylord, was years in the making. “One day I decided to try it over a foam pit just for fun. It seemed possible so I continued to play with it until eventually, I realised I could probably compete it. That’s when I trained it more seriously to be able to submit it as a new skill,” said Koudinov, who first showcased the element in October at the world qualifications before perusing recognition.

The Koudinov was classed among gymnastics’ most difficult elements and its creator is the only New Zealand gymnast to perform it. The move was rated a ‘ G’ which is the seventh highest category in the list of the most difficult elements in gymnastics.

“It took around a month of training to catch it for the first time, but I have been training it without the 360 twist for 11 years,” he said.

“I used to spin things like pens and highlighters at school pretending they were gymnasts. I imagined all sorts of crazy skills and this was one of the more possible ones. It’s such a special feeling to have my element published, especially as it received such a high difficulty rating of G.”

Koudinov started gymnastics at seven and by 14 was the youngest member of the 2006 Commonwealth Games team in Melbourne.

In 2010, he took up a four-year scholarship with the Ohio State Buckeyes where he continued to make his way up the world rankings.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics he finished 16th on vault. He now trains at Tri Star Gymnastics in Mt Roskill.