Dutch gymnast Epke Zonderland became the talk of international gymnastics this weekend when the 31-year-old pulled off one of the most incredible saves on the high bar you’re likely to see.
This gymnast lost his grip then miraculously pulled off a one-handed save
You’ve got to see this.
@epkez, Twitter
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Zonderland lost his grip on a release during the finals of the high bar at the world championships in Montreal, and managed to only catch the bar with one hand. Typically this results in a gymnast falling, often in horrific circumstances — but Zonderland managed to hold on for a full rotation and recover his routine.
It’s not unusual to see gymnasts swing one-handed, but you never see them land aerial maneuvers with just one hand because of the force and weight it puts on the arm. The reaction from Zonderland’s competitor says it all.
Zonderland held on and won silver at the world championships, later making a joke on his Twitter account where he referred to the moment as “Zonderhand.”
“Epke Zonderhand! Who would have thought. Still really happy I was able to win silver!”
Let this be a lesson in never, ever giving up.
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