There is little doubt that gymnasts are among the top athletes in the world, regardless of gender. It is staggering and mind-blowing how their bodies move,

twist, and whirl. High levels of ability, strength, balance, and athleticism are necessary to be a top gymnast.

All of that is on top of the unwavering commitment and the countless hours of tough, concentrated practice.

Olga Korbut is one of several gymnasts who have long dazzled onlookers with their astounding and amazing performances.

Olga performs the ‘dead loop,’ a move that has since been prohibited, in a video that was uploaded to YouTube.

The video consists of a collection of Olga’s Olympic Games performances in Munich, Germany. It demonstrates the 17-year-old woman working out on the balance beam, the uneven bars, and the floor.

The beginning of the video demonstrates Olga’s performance on the uneven bars, when she executes the ‘dead loop.’ Swinging on the tiniest bar,

the young woman starts her routine by gaining speed and momentum. She then uses her momentum to fall backward and grabs hold of the higher bar.

Olga starts the ‘dead loop’ at around the 10-second mark. In order to move forward, she stands up on the topmost bar,

flips backward while holding onto the bar above her head as she descends. She then launches herself in the direction of the lowest bar.

After swinging onto the lower bar, Olga flips once, launches herself backward, and grabs hold of the higher bar.

It’s difficult to believe that the maneuver was genuinely executed with such speed, accuracy, and finesse. You don’t even have to be a fan of gymnastics to be enthralled by the amazing move.