A Love Letter to Viktoria Komova's Uneven Bars Routine

Author's note: I swear I was trying really hard to not sound corny, but it just didn't work out, okay?!? So this post is filled with some sugary drooling after Vika's bars, starting with an extra sugary foreword, forgive me.
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It has been four years since Viktoria Komova last competed at World Championships. Four long years. The last time was in 2011 and the Worlds were in Tokyo. It was a different time and a different Code of Points, but it was also the exciting pre-Olympic year.

I began this post with this reminder, because I feel like a lot of people don't remember what happened then. They remember her two silvers, one of them tainted with tears of disappointment, but they forgot what came afterwards, and that was a gold medal.

She was the uneven bars World Champion then and she regained her title this year, in perhaps the most bizarre final in ages, but still. And she may look a completely different gymnast, but the way she swings bars is still as breathtakingly beautiful as it was then.
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The kips and casts. Absolute basics for an elite, but so effortless and beautifully done. They don’t break the rhythm of the routine one bit, all flow nicely and don’t look the least bit muscled. Toes perfectly pointed, legs straight and beautiful handstands.

The swing. So light but at the same time so powerful. No muscling needed, just a natural swing that makes it look like even centrifugal force is in love with Vika and works with her in perfect harmony. She’s swinging around that bar effortlessly in a calm but purposeful rhythm that never breaks.

The form.  Body beautifully in line, legs long and pencil straight with toes extending them even further and everything glued together without it looking like she’s squeezing them or making any effort. And she just might have the most beautiful tucked position out of anyone right now, the entire length of her legs from her thighs to her big toes glued together and feet pointed.

The flight. Again, lighter than air but so powerful. The physics just work for her. She’s hanging there, letting go and flying with the current wherever it takes her.

The landing. This is how you end a routine.

Effortless. Now how many times did I already mention that word? Whatever, let’s say it one more time, she makes something so difficult look so effortless.

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Are you gagging yet? But think about it. She had a big mistake during qualification, a fall during team final and then she showed up to finals and finally got it right, and was rewarded for it with a gold medal. I'm really happy for her, she deserved it. Everyone of the 4 gold medalists performed well and everyone had plenty of small mistakes too. But all that math that went into the scores aside, to me this was aesthetically the most beautiful routine of the night.

Have a great weekend!
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Posted originally on my tumblr.