Thread by @sf_boswell

Last night, Simone Biles successfully performed a triple double, and the entire world is (correctly) freaking out.

For those interested in the background, here is a short thread explaining *why* the triple double is so difficult.

First, the basics: a triple double = a double back flip with three twists.

Wow! That sounds super-hard. But if you don't know gymnastics, what does any of that really mean? Let's break it down further...

Here is Gabby Douglas performing a single back flip - one flip in the air, in the tucked position. The back flip is a fairly easy skill on floor for elite gymnasts. It's worth an A, or .1 points in difficulty.

Sometime around the 1976 olympics, women's gymnasts started doing the double back (two flips in the air, in a tucked position). Here it is, performed by Sarah Finnegan. It's worth a D in elite gymnastics, or .4 points in difficulty.

In 1978, Elena Mukhina brought out the full-twisting double tuck - a double tuck with a full twist.

Here's Biles' version of the Mukhina: she does a full twist on the first flip, and then a "regular" back flip at the end.

Here's another view at the full-twisting double back, this time from Larisa Iordache. Again, Iordache twists during the first flip, then does a regular back flip at the end. This skill is worth an E, or .5 points in difficulty.

In the late 1980s, gymnasts were like "but what if we did a double DOUBLE." because it was the eighties, and people were wild. The double double means two back flips, and a twist on each back flip (two twists). Here's Biles performing the double double.

The double double was named after Daniela Silivas in 1988. Here's another look at it, from Morgan Hurd (2017 All Around World Champion and personal hero). Watch how she twists on both back flips:

The Silivas is worth an H, or .8 points in difficulty.

The TRIPLE double means three twists, two back flips. Which means Biles is doing more twists than she has back flips to do them on.

Now, I could be wrong, but I think Biles accomplishes this by doing two twists on the first flip and "just" one on the end.

But here's what you should notice. The double double was named in 1988.

Adding the first twist to a double back took a couple years. Adding the second took ten. Adding the third twist took 31.

And Simone Biles.

The triple double, BTW, has been given a provisional value of a J - or 1.0 in difficulty. This is the highest difficulty value assigned to a skill... ever, AFAIK.

Which isn't to say there hasn't been innovation in the difficulty department. In the late 80s, early 90s, we had the full twisting double layout (a double back in the stretched position, with a full twist)

(Which Simone can do beautifully, of course).

Then Biles was like "what if I did a double layout with a HALF twist" (2013), and everyone was like "we didn't know you could do that?"

(double back flip, stretched position, half twist - worth a G, or .7 points)

And in 2013, Victoria Moors said "what if you did a double layout with two twists" and everyone was like "what if you didn't die?"

And now the "Moors" as it's know, is just a more and more common skill - see Jade Carey performing the Moors, below (I-rating, .9 points).

But the triple double remained elusive. Until gym fans saw Biles throw it in practice videos, and in podium training.

IF Biles successfully performs the triple double at World Championships, it will be either the third or fourth skill named after her in the Code of Points, after the Biles on floor (double layout with a half twist) and the Biles on vault (a yurchenko half-on, two twists off).

"Why the third or fourth?" Well, it depends if Biles does her new double double beam dismount first, doesn't it?

I'm not even going to get into the dismount, because I... it's ridiculous. A DOUBLE FLIPPING DOUBLE BACK OFF BEAM.

Y'ALL.

We are blessed.

Anyway, a quick coda. Men have been doing the triple double for a while, but Biles' version is... arguably better?

Usually, gymnastics fans get pissed if you compare men and women's floor skills, because women dance and men don't, women do dance skills (leaps and turns) and men don't.

(I personally would like to see more attitude turns in men's artistic gymnastics, but no one asked me)

But with Biles, we literally can't compare her triple double to other women's artistic gymnasts. We are left only with men!

The triple double on the men's side is named after North Korean gymnast Ri Jong Song, who debuted it in 2004.

Men VERY rarely perform the triple double - no USian man does it at this time, and I can only think of two recent men who have performed it, both incredible floor workers (Kohei Uchimura and Kenzo Shirai).

Kenzo Shirai is one of the best, if not the best floor worker of this generation - he's created 3 new floor skills and debuted multiple floor combinations. Like Biles, he's the only person who can perform *his* floor routine (everyone else would die).

Here's his triple double.

Shirai does a great triple double (no shade, I love him). But here's another angle where you can really see the difference with Biles. Look at the shape of the Shirai's tuck in the air. You want the tuck to be as compact as possible.

Biles is known for having an excellent tuck shape - the angles of her hips and knees are at close to 90 degree. She's practically a drawing from the Code of Points.

Compare these two stills of Biles and Shirai in the air (near the end of the second flip). Note how Shirai's knees and hips are much looser than 90 degrees. He's almost straight up and down.

Biles, on the other hand, still looks like she's in a tight tuck shape near the end of the second flip. Her knees are tighter than 90 degrees, and her hips are pretty close to a 90 degree angle with her legs.

Biles also LANDS with her chest higher: Shirai lands a little low, with knees pretty bent and chest almost at at a 90 degree angle with his hips.

Compare Shirai's position with where Biles lands - with her chest nearly at a standing position, knees lightly bent. This high landing position means Biles completed the move with time to spare.

(By the way, I did pick the best men's triple double I could find, and this isn't to throw any shade at Shirai, who is one of my two or three favorite men's gymnasts. Have Kenzo Shirai sticking a quad twist, one of his eponymous skills, for fun.

I hope you've enjoyed this "why the triple double is so difficult and Biles is incredible" thread! Let me know if you have questions! Please remember, as always, that while American gymnasts are incredible, USA gymnastics is the absolute worst, and should be decertified.

As Simone Biles herself said: "It’s not easy coming back to the sport. Coming back to the organization that has failed you... they couldn’t do one damn job. You had one job. You literally had one job and you couldn’t protect us."

https://twitter.com/olympicchannel/status/1159188058308272128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1159188058308272128&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsport%2F2019%2Faug%2F08%2Fsimone-biles-usa-gymnastics-larry-nassar-abuse

So, this thread really blew up! If you're wondering what Biles' quote refers to: the team doctor for USA gymnastics sexually abused over 260 women, including 4/5 members of the 2016 olympic team (Biles inc). USA gymnastics helped cover it up.

More info: cnn.it/2KJFnpg

Also, since a lot of people asked, I did a followup explaining Biles' other innovation this weekend - the double double dismount on beam:

https://twitter.com/sf_boswell/status/1161754969906827264