Event
Balance beam

Skill type
Turn

Value
C

Known as
L turn
Leg-up full turn
Full turn with leg at horizontal

Named after
The letter L

About
There was a period of time from 2006 to 2008 in which this C (0.3) element was a near-compulsory skill in all elite beam routines because a turning element had to be included in the routine’s 10 counting skills. The L turn was the most doable turn in the code that still had a worthwhile value, so everyone used it.

In 2009, the number of counting skills was lowered to 8 and the requirement to count a turn was eliminated, so nearly every gymnast immediately threw this turn in the garbage never to look at it again. But not every gymnast. The L turn remains useful in direct connection with a regular full turn for 0.1 in combination bonus—and/or in a three-element connection for another 0.1 in series bonus—if (and only if) you are a Dutchwoman.

The L turn also underwent a makeover in 2022. Prior to that, it was possible to perform it in the regular L turn position as seen above, but also with a bent raised leg, or a held raised leg, all for the same value.

But in 2022, the powers that be released an official decree stating, “Sweetie, that ugly” and removed the bent- and held-leg options from this skill, requiring the raised leg to be a heterosexual parolee (straight and free).