Cool Trick: The Full-In (or Full-Out) Dismount off Parallel Bars

Grant Golding (Canada) performs a double pike dismount from the parallel bars Photo © Ross Land / Getty Images

On most of the “swinging” events in gymnastics (high bar, uneven bars and rings), the gymnast can set up for his or her dismount with a few giant circles to gain momentum. On the parallel bars, this is impossible. Athletes swing between the two bars, and have to switch their grip at the top of each swing, killing any momentum.

Because of this, parallel bar dismounts are often less exciting that dismounts from the other events. It seems that almost every gymnast is performing a double pike (two flips in the piked position). The exception is the full-twisting double back (called a full-in if the twist is in the first flip, or a full-out if the twist is in the second flip).

Very few gymnasts have dared to throw this dismount, because it usually requires the gymnast to twist towards the parallel bars while at the same time completing two back flips. If it sounds crazy, it’s because it is! Here’s Marcel Nguyen performing a full-out dismount from p-bars. This skill is rated an “F”, the most difficult rating of any dismount.

What dismount would you like to see off the parallel bars?