The Thomas salto is an extremely difficult and dangerous move performed during the floor

Floor (gymnastics)

In gymnastics, the floor refers to a specially prepared exercise surface, which is considered an apparatus. It is used by both male and female gymnasts. The event in gymnastics performed on floor is called floor exercise. The English abbreviation for the event in gymnastics scoring is FX.A spring...

 exercise in Artistic gymnastics

Artistic gymnastics

Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...

. It is named after American gymnast Kurt Thomas

Kurt Thomas (gymnast)

Kurt Bilteaux Thomas is an American Olympic gymnast.While at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, Thomas became a member of the US Olympic team at the 1976 Summer Olympics. In 1978, Thomas was the first American male gymnast to win a gold medal in floor exercise in a world championship...

.

Technical details

The Thomas Salto consists of a 1 ½ salto backward in a tucked or piked position with 1 ½ twists or a 1 ½ salto backward in a layout (straight) position with 1 ½ twists.

The move is effectively banned for women as it was removed from the Code of Points

Code of Points (artistic gymnastics)

A Code of Points is a rulebook that defines the scoring system for each level of competition in gymnastics. There is no unified, international code of points; every oversight organization—such as FIG , NCAA Gymnastics, and most national gymnastics federations—designs and employs its own unique Code...

 following several serious accidents, most notably the paralysis of Elena Mukhina

Elena Mukhina

Elena Vyacheslavovna Mukhina , born in Moscow, Russian SFSR, was a former Soviet gymnast who won the All-Around title at the 1978 World Championships at Strasbourg, France...

in 1980. It remains an allowed skill for men as of 2008. The current Code of Points for all forms of gymnastics can be found at FIG Code of Points downloads.