Elvire Teza
Encyclopedia
Elvire Teza is a retired French gymnast who competed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. She was the French National Champion in gymnastics in 1997, 1999 and 2000.
Born on the island of Reunion, Teza trained in Marseilles under coaches Shi Mao, Lin Xuan and Ma Jun. She made her international debut at the age of thirteen at the Junior European Championships, where she won bronze medals on the balance beam and floor exercise. At the 1996 Junior Europeans, she improved on these results, winning a gold medal on the uneven bars and silver medals with the French team and the beam final. In 1997, Teza became the first (and to date, the only) French gymnast to win the American Cup
.
Teza competed at three World Gymnastics Championships
, in 1995, 1997 (where she placed 6th on balance beam in event finals) and 1999. She also represented France at the Olympics twice; at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and the 2000 Games in Sydney
. In Sydney, Teza became the first French female gymnast ever to qualify for an Olympic event final, placing eighth on the uneven bars.
Teza's beam and bars routines typically combined artistry with extreme difficulty. On the balance beam (coincidentally, an event she was said to dislike) Teza developed two original skills: a full twisting Yurchenko loop
to back hip circle
and a sideways Yang Bo jump. Both elements are named after her in the Code of Points and are classified as high-difficulty skills. On the uneven bars she performed intricate work with German giant swings rarely seen in competition and two of those moves are named after her as well. Teza's tumbling and vaulting were considered relatively weak compared to her other events, however, on floor exercise she was known for presenting routines with expressive choreography and excellent dance elements.
Teza retired after the 2000 Olympics to pursue her education.
Born on the island of Reunion, Teza trained in Marseilles under coaches Shi Mao, Lin Xuan and Ma Jun. She made her international debut at the age of thirteen at the Junior European Championships, where she won bronze medals on the balance beam and floor exercise. At the 1996 Junior Europeans, she improved on these results, winning a gold medal on the uneven bars and silver medals with the French team and the beam final. In 1997, Teza became the first (and to date, the only) French gymnast to win the American Cup
American Cup (gymnastics)
The American Cup, is an elite senior level international gymnastics competition held in the United States, and is generally considered to be one of the first major competitions of the Gymnastics season, as it is held in March or February of each year. In 1978-79 the event was sponsored by Dial and...
.
Teza competed at three World Gymnastics Championships
World Gymnastics Championships
The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique organises World Gymnastics Championships for each of the gymnastic disciplines:...
, in 1995, 1997 (where she placed 6th on balance beam in event finals) and 1999. She also represented France at the Olympics twice; at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and the 2000 Games in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. In Sydney, Teza became the first French female gymnast ever to qualify for an Olympic event final, placing eighth on the uneven bars.
Teza's beam and bars routines typically combined artistry with extreme difficulty. On the balance beam (coincidentally, an event she was said to dislike) Teza developed two original skills: a full twisting Yurchenko loop
Yurchenko loop
A Yurchenko loop is a skill performed on the balance beam in women's artistic gymnastics. It is named after Soviet gymnast Natalia Yurchenko, who originated and competed the element in the early 1980s....
to back hip circle
Back hip circle
The back hip circle is an element in men's and women's artistic gymnastics. It is usually performed on the uneven bars or high bar, but can also be done on the balance beam. It is a basic skill, and is usually one of the first learned by beginning gymnasts, but also appears as a component of more...
and a sideways Yang Bo jump. Both elements are named after her in the Code of Points and are classified as high-difficulty skills. On the uneven bars she performed intricate work with German giant swings rarely seen in competition and two of those moves are named after her as well. Teza's tumbling and vaulting were considered relatively weak compared to her other events, however, on floor exercise she was known for presenting routines with expressive choreography and excellent dance elements.
Teza retired after the 2000 Olympics to pursue her education.
Sources
- Biography and list of competitive results at the French Gymnastics Federation website (in French)
- ABC-TV broadcast of the 1997 World Gymnastics ChampionshipsWorld Gymnastics ChampionshipsThe Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique organises World Gymnastics Championships for each of the gymnastic disciplines:...
, 1997 - Animation of teza performing her signature skill on beam
- Animation of Teza performing a German giant on the uneven bars
