The Frenchman, a revolutionary at heart, we think internationally. The stereotype is often repeated at the slightest manifestation (roughly every week, therefore). And the French skaters have done nothing to stop these rumors. Latest example with Adam Siao Him Fa, who broke free of the rules during the world figure skating championships last weekend, where he won an improbable bronze medal.
During a superb free program, the 23-year-old Frenchman, no stranger to the genre, rewarded us with a first-rate backflip which delighted the spectators at the Bell Center in Montreal. However, this figure has been banned in competition by the International Federation since 1976. The reason: a dangerous and “not correct” jump, because the athlete lands on both skates. The intrepid person who dares to do it is even penalized with two penalty points.
Not dangerous for high-level athletes
Which could have cost our skater dearly. “The backflip, I added it during the program, after the last jump, I hadn’t even talked to my coaches about it, it wasn’t planned,” explains Adam Siao Him Fa to 20 minutes joking. I thought more about the performance than the result. » For the beauty of the gesture, in short. As did also Philippe Candeloro and Surya Bonaly. The skater even dared to do it during the Nagano Olympic Games in 1998, by landing on one skate.
“This figure is not dangerous for athletes who are at the world championship, because it is repeated, worked on the ground, tempers Elisabeth Louesdon, former judge, who officiated at four Olympic Games, now administrator of the Federal Commission of refereeing officials of the French Ice Sports Federation. It’s especially dangerous because young skaters will want to repeat this somersault performed by their idols. And when you don’t know how to skate well, it can be very risky. » As for the French Cyril Hernandez, who became quadriplegic after an attempted somersault in 1993.
Adam Siao Him Fa is campaigning for the International Federation (ISU) to change its judgment. And performs these backflips in competition to prove that the figure is achievable during major competitions, as he had already done during the European Championships at the start of the year.
“ After my last jump, in my pirouette, I said to myself: “Now all we have to do is finish the program, I might as well do it with a back somersault, for me, for the judges or for the public,” explains the double European champion. It’s with the aim of showing that after three and a half minutes of the program, I’m still capable of doing a backflip. It’s not as dangerous as you might think. It’s is an element that we should be able to present in competition. »
No penalty, but no gain either
Behind this wish that the ISU, which did not respond to our requests, authorizes the backflip in competition, there is also the desire of Adam Siao Him Fa “to expand the number of acrobatics”. The Frenchman “heard” that discussions were being held in this direction. Same thing for Elisabeth Louesdon, who goes even a little further. “We should no longer sanction those who do backflips and remove the two penalty points from them. It won’t bring anything to do one, but we won’t lose anything, it will be judged as a choreographic movement. That will already be a big step. »
The former judge still wants this measure to be limited and reserved for certain competitions, but still praises this “spectacular” figure. “The public is just as impressed by a backflip as by a quad, whereas the difficulty of the quadruple is ten times, thirteen times higher,” concludes Adam Siao Him Fa. “You sometimes even see people getting up, surprised, for a somersault , because they are not used to seeing them. » If the legislation changes, this would allow everyone to remain seated. A boon for those placed behind the front rows.