Australian gymnast Kate Sayer has achieved one of the most significant distinctions in the sport by having a skill named in her honour.
The skill, to be known as “The Sayer”, has been added to the International Federation of Gymnastics’ (FIG) women’s artistic code of points.
FIG uses the code of points to score exercises at all levels of gymnastics.
Sayer and her coach worked on the skill that relates to the transition from the high to low bar on the uneven bars.
Sayer is one of only six Australian women to receive the honour.
“I think it’s amazing to have a gymnastics skill named after me,” Sayer said in a statement.
“Gymnastics is a sport that allows for flexibility in how things are done, and it’s an incredible feeling to be able to contribute something new.
“If you’d told me when I started gymnastics 17 years ago that I’d have this honour, I would never have believed it.”
The Brisbane-based Sayer added: “A lot of hard work went into perfecting this skill, and I’m thankful to my coaches, for their support and encouragement throughout the process.
“Without them, this would not have been possible.”
Sayer introduced the skill in competition in 2021 and it has since been performed at the national and international level.
Georgia Godwin, Trudy Macintosh, Jacqui Dunn, Lauren Mitchell and Mary-Ann Monckton are the other Australians to have a skilled after them by FIG.
