Vietnamese gymnast has his move officially added to code

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese gymnast Pham Phuoc Hung has made history after one of his techniques was officially named and added to the Men's Gymnastics Code of Points of the International Gymnastics Federation.

His new creation is one of eight new elements recognised by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Men's Technical Committee it was confirmed on February 14 following a meeting at their headquarters in Lausanne.

At the FIG World Championships in Scotland, last November, Hung took those in attendance at the Glasgow's SSE Hydro exhibition centre by surprise as he successfully completed an unprecedented technique in the rings event.

The Vietnamese pulled with straight arms and body through a momentary front lever through cross to support the scale for two seconds.

Having never been done by any athlete before, his technique has been included in the Code of Points and competition system under the name of "PHAM" with a difficulty rating of D.

Athletic careers are finite, but showing a skill that has never been done before in gymnastics is a way for gymnasts to achieve immortality in the sport. The gymnast who successfully performs a new skill has the honour of having the element bear his or her name in the Code of Points, according to FIG.

Even if Olympic glory is the main objective for gymnasts leading up to this summer's Games in Rio, the lure of doing something new and innovative is equally tantalising. After being submitted to the FIG for consideration, prospective new moves are evaluated for difficulty and given a difficulty rating between A and H, with A elements being the easiest and H elements being the hardest.

After that, it is up to the gymnast to complete the skill without a large error at an approved competition, including the World Championships or Olympic Games. Submitted elements completed successfully at smaller competitions may also be approved later by the FIG.

Hung is one of two Vietnamese seeking berths in the coming Rio de Janeiro this summer.

The 27-year-old will join his female teammate Phan Thi Ha Thanh in Brazil in a month's time for the Olympic qualification tournament.

Other athletes who received the honour are Japanese Kenzo Shirai and Koji Yamamuro, Australian Naoya Tsukahara, American Jacob Dalton, and Venezuelan Jose Luis Fuentes, along with Finn Tomi Tuuha.-VNA