Event
Balance beam

Skill type
Mount

Value
D
(upgraded from C in 2017)

Known as
Switch split mount
Switch mount

About
The switch split is a relatively new mount in the gymnastics code of points, only coming into being at the 2010 world championship in Rotterdam. It remains unnamed, however, because it was submitted and performed by three separate gymnasts at the same competition—Pauline Morel (FRA), Monika Frandofert (POL), Aurelie Maulaussena (FRA)—which at that time resulted in an unnamed skill. But if you’d like to call it the MorelFrandofertMalaussena instead, then by all means.

Originally, this mount was given a C (0.3) value, but in 2017, a number of beam mounts were upgraded in difficulty to encourage gymnasts to do something, ANYTHING AT ALL, other than just sitting on the beam like an object. And it worked. Since being upgraded to D (0.4), the switch mount has become one of the most popular beam mounts in gymnastics, an exceptionally useful counting dance element for any routine.