Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
USA TODAY Sports Media Group
Olympics gymnastics scoring: How Simone Biles keeps pushing the limits of the sport to the brink
By Mike D. Sykes, II,
3 hours ago
Simone Biles is unquestionably the greatest gymnast any of us have ever seen.
When I say this, I mean it quite literally: No one has been able to accomplish what she’s been able to accomplish — not just in awards and accolades but also in ability. She does things that no one else can do.
She’s been so good that gymnastics, as a sport, hasn’t always known how to handle how good she is. That’s been reflected in some of her Olympic performances in the past.
We know how the scoring system works and the basics of the sport, but she completely shatters those conventions.
Biles was so impossible back in 2019 that the International Gymnastics Federation dinged her for doing something no one else could do simply because it didn’t want other gymnasts to try.
The move was assigned an “H” letter grade, which is eight-tenths of a point, instead of the maximum possible which would’ve been a “J,” giving Biles a full point.
Biles’ double-double was unprecedented, but because of its boundary-pushing nature, it was graded on a curve. The decision was criticized heavily — rightfully so.
The Women’s Technical Committee released a statement in the days following Biles’ big moment explaining the decision.
“In assigning values to the new elements, the WTC takes into consideration many different aspects; the risk, the safety of the gymnasts and the technical direction of the discipline,” it said. “There is added risk in landing of double saltos for beam dismounts (with/without twists), including a potential landing on the neck.”
Biles was obviously unhappy about it.
The move is now one of many named after her and something that, still, all these years later, no one has been able to pull off in competition.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0