American gymnast ‘made in Cuba’ gambles on innovative move for glory at Rio 2016
Danell Leyva, obsessed with winning gold at the Olympic Games, has created a special move on the parallel bars with his ‘Coach Yinsanity’
Leyva celebrates winning bronze in the all-round competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Getty Images/Harry How)
Danell Leyva, the only male medallist on the USA’s artistic gymnastics team at the London 2012 Olympic Games, has a trick up his sleeve for success at the Rio Olympic Arena in August. The Cuban-born athlete plans to unleash a special move – “the Leyva”, as he calls it – which he has created for the parallel bars.
The movement requires great precision and strength. After a full turn on the parallel bars, the athlete needs to balance himself in a handstand, holding just one bar.
“You need a lot of coordination to find balance. It’s extraordinary that he’s managed to create this move. As far as I know, Danell is the only athlete that has done this.”
Kevin Mazeika, USA men’s artistic gymnastics team coordinator
Leyva trains at the Rio Olympic Arena on 14 January 2016 (Photo: Rio 2016/Gabriel Nascimento)
“It’s a very difficult manoeuvre, which I created thinking of bringing more complexity to the parallel. Those in the stands at Rio 2016 will see.”
Danell Leyva, London 2012 all-round bronze medallist
Leyva was in Rio last week (10-17 January) with his USA teammates, familiarising themselves with the Rio Olympic Arena, the gymnastics venue for the Olympic Games, and getting to know the city. In an exclusive interview with rio2016.com, he revealed his plans for Olympic competition (check out the video below, click on cog symbol for English subtitles).
Made in Cuba
Leyva’s is an inspirational tale. His mother, Cuban gymnast Maria Gonzalez, left her homeland for Miami, taking little Danell with her when he was under two years old. There, Maria met and married a former colleague from the Cuban national team, Yin Alvarez. He had arrived in the United States in spectacular style, swimming across the Rio Grande from Mexico in 1992.
Today, as well as being his stepfather, Alvarez is Danell’s coach and mentor. His energetic reactions during his stepson’s performances (see video below) have made Alvarez a well-known character in the sport and earned him the nickname ‘Coach Yinsanity’.
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Jokes aside, the strategy has worked for the pair. “We have a unique dynamic,” said Leyva. “Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without this energy of his during the competitions. I wouldn’t swap it for anything.”
Leyva is an athlete on the up. As well as bronze in the individual all-round in London 2012, he has won five world championship medals. And he does not intend to rest until he has reached his ultimate goal.
“My objective is Olympic gold. I’m looking to improve every day, training hard with the dream in my head.”
Danell Leyva
The USA team coordinator, Kevin Mazeika, sees several strong attributes in Leyva: “He has that fierce, competitive drive, he always wants to do well.”
Leyva gets some big air on his way to bronze in London (Photo: Getty Images/Harry How)
A specialist on the parallel bars, the pommel horse and the floor, Leyva plans to use these skills to beat his rivals. Among them is Brazilian Olympic and world champion on the rings, Arthur Zanetti.
“Zanetti is shorter and has a lot of strength in the arms. That’s why he’s so good on the rings. I’m taller, so I have to succeed on other apparatus”
Danell Leyva
With hair dyed green and speaking Portuguese with an accent – he decided to learn the language by himself, to “blend in with the cariocas” during the Olympic Games – the Cuban already feels at home in Rio. “The atmosphere is very good here. I’m sure that the Olympic Games will be a lot of fun. After all, this is Rio,” he said.
Leyva and team-mates enjoyed Rio's Ipanema beach during their recent visit
The relaxed atmosphere even led to an outbreak of unconventional training during their time in Rio. The Americans and Brazilians staged an impromptu pelada (casual football kick-about) at the Olympic Arena:
Leyva said it was indicative of the spirit between gymnasts. “People compete, but also support each other and have fun together. They are like brothers”, he said.
“The venues are great. It is very important for the team to get acclimatised to the host city before”
Kevin Mazeika
The American and Brazilian gymnasts pose for a photo together (Photo: Rio2016/Gabriel Nascimento)
Other gymnasts who have created their own moves
Simone Biles (USA)
Created a floor move featuring a double layout with a half turn
Daiane dos Santos (Brazil)
The ‘Dos Santos’ is a floor move featuring a double Arabian piked
Diego Hypolito (Brazil)
The ‘Hypolito’ is a floor move that comprises a spiked double Arabian with a full twist
Mitsuo Tsukahara (Japan)
He pioneered a roundoff over the vault into a backward salto, with or without twist
Natalia Yurchenko (Russia)
Created the ‘Yurchenko’, a floor move that involves two and a half pirouettes in the second phase of a jump
