WOMEN ARTISTIC GYMNASTIC

The History

The first women competed in artistic gymnastics in the 1928 Olympics. The
sport was very different than it is today, however: there was only a team
event. At the 1950 world championships, women’s artistic gymnastics
debuted in its present form, with competition in team, all-around and the
individual events.

The Participants

As the name conveys, women’s artistic gymnastics has all-female

participants. Gymnasts often start very young, and begin to compete at the
lowest levels at about age six. Currently, a gymnast becomes age-eligible
for the Olympic Games on January 1st of her 16th year. (For example, a
gymnast born Dec. 31, 1996 was age eligible for the 2012 Olympics). Elite
gymnasts vary in age, however, and many gymnasts are now competing
into their 20s and sometimes even their early 30s.

Athletic Requirements

Top artistic gymnasts must have many different attributes: strength,

balance, flexibility, air sense and grace are some of the most important.
They also must possess psychological qualities such as the courage to
attempt difficult tricks and to compete under intense pressure, and the
discipline and work ethic to practice a routine many times.

The Events

Female artistic gymnasts compete in four events:

 Vault: The gymnast runs down a runway, jumps onto a springboard,

and is propelled over a vaulting “table” about 4 ft. off the ground.

 Uneven Bars: The gymnast performs swings, release moves,

pirouettes and a dismount using two horizontal bars set at different
heights. The lower bar is usually about 5 ft. off the ground, and the
high bar is about 8 ft. from the floor.
 Balance Beam: The gymnast completes a choreographed routine
with a mount, leaps, jumps, flips, turns and a dismount on a padded,
wooden beam approximately 4 ft. high. The exercise may not be
longer than 90 seconds.
 Floor Exercise: The gymnast performs a choreographed routine to
music of her choice. The routine usually consists of three or four
tumbling passes, as well as leaps, jumps and dance moves, and
 cannot be longer than 90 seconds. The floor mat is 40 ft. by 40 ft. and
is usually made of carpeting over padded foam and springs.

RULES
Artistic gymnastics like all sports has its own rules and regulations, that must be respected
for all the athletes that wants to participate in the competitions. These rules were published
by the FIG (International Federation of Gymnastics) and are the following ones:

 All gymnasts must be at least 16 years old

 The old scoring system of Perfect 10 has been abolished to create room for more open
marking system
 There are no mixed events — men and women competitions are held separately
 Final scores are based on difficulty of the routine and the execution
 The difficulty (“D”) score begins at 0.0 and is marked up with every difficult skill performed
 The execution (“E”) is scored at a 10.0, and the judges deduct for errors in performance
 The deductions are:
 Minor error = 0.1
 Serious errors = 0.4 to 1.0
 Gymnast falls off a piece of apparatus = 0.5
 All gymnasts are given only one attempt on each apparatus
 Only if the gymnast has been interrupted by an external factor can he/she be allowed another
chance
 Gymnasts are permitted to wear bandages or leather grips that will help increase friction on
the apparatus
 While totaling, the highest and lowest marks are not considered, but an average score is
calculated from the rest.
 Assistants known as ‘spotters’ may stand next to specified pieces of apparatus to prevent risk
of injury but 0.4 will be taken off the final score if help is required.
 Spotters are allowed to help gymnasts mount the still rings and the horizontal bars.
 Gymnasts may be penalised for what the judges consider to be unsporting behaviour.
 Gymnasts must obtain permission to leave the arena during a competition.

SCORING
In 2006, the Code of Points and the entire gymnastics scoring system were completely overhauled.
The change stemmed from the judging controversy at 2004 Olympics in Athens, which brought the
reliability and objectivity of the scoring system into question, and arguments that execution had
been sacrificed for difficulty in artistic gymnastics. It follows a similarly radical scoring change
in figure skating that also was prompted by irregularities in judging at major events. [1]
Since its inception in major events in 2006, the Code has faced strong opposition from many
prominent coaches, athletes and judges. Proponents of the new system believe it is a necessary
step in advancing gymnastics, promoting difficult skills and increasing judging objective.
Opponents feel that people outside the gymnastics community will not understand the scoring and
will lose interest in the sport, and that, without emphasising artistry, the essence of gymnastics will
change. Many opponents of the new scoring system feel that this system, in essence, chooses the
winners before competition ever begins. Competitors no longer compete on the same level. Each
contestant begins with a unique start value; therefore, contestants assigned a lower start value or
difficulty rating are knocked out of the winner's circle before the competition begins. They may
compete, but they cannot win. A competitor with a higher difficulty rating will begin competition with
a higher combined base score. There has been dissent over the fact that the new Code effectively
abolishes the "perfect 10" score, for many years one of the hallmarks of gymnastics. There has
also been concern that the new Code strongly favors extreme difficulty over form, execution and
consistency. At the 2006 World Championships, for instance, Vanessa Ferrari of Italy was able to
controversially win the women's all-around title despite a fall on the balance beam, in part by
picking up extra points from performing more high-difficulty skills on floor exercise.[2][3][4] The 2006
report of the FIG's Athletes' Commission, drafted after a review and discussion of the year's events
noted several areas of concern including numerous inconsistencies in judging and evaluation of
skills and routines.[5]
However, the leadership of the FIG remains committed to the new Code. While small revisions
have been made to the Code, there is currently no indication that it will be significantly altered[citation
needed]
or that there will be a return to the old Code or 10.0 scoring system.
The current Code of Points covers the years 2017 to 2020. Following past editions, there is no top
score of 10.0, nor is there an upper limit of the difficulty score. Official men's skills are rated from A
to H and women's skills from A to I.
Table of elements[edit]
The Table of Elements is the section of the Code of Points which is used to identify, classify and
assign value to gymnastics elements. Every acrobatic and dance skill is listed, illustrated and
assigned a specific difficulty rating. Currently, difficulty ratings for both the women's and men's
code range from A (with assigned numerical value of 0.10; easiest) to I (with assigned numerical
value of 0.90; most difficult) for all apparatus except vault. Currently, every vault is assigned a
specific points value which range from 2.0 to 7.2. The Table of Elements is the one aspect of
the Code that did not undergo major changes in the 2006 Code overhaul.
As other aspects of the Code, the Table of Elements is frequently re-evaluated. Skills listed in
the Table may have their difficulty ratings raised or lowered after evaluation by the FIG Technical
Committee. In addition, skills that are determined to be too dangerous to the athletes may be
banned outright. The Technical Committee may also give specific hazardous skills artificially low
difficulty ratings to deter gymnasts from trying to compete them.
Many of the skills in the Table of Elements are named after gymnasts. An original element is
named after an athlete when he or she is the first person to successfully perform it at a World
Championships or Olympics. Gymnasts and their coaches must submit their original skill to
the FIG before the meet for evaluation and possible inclusion in the Table of Elements.
Judging and score tabulation[edit]
Two panels of judges score every single routine, evaluating different aspects of the performance.
The final mark is the combined total of these two scores.
The D-score (or difficulty score) evaluates the content of the exercise on three criteria: difficulty
value (DV), composition requirements (CR) and connection value (CV).

 DV: The difficulty value of the eight highest value elements of the routine, including the
dismount, are added together. Elements are ranked depending on their difficulty; for example
on beam, a back layout salto to two feet is given a difficulty of E, and a back layout salto with a
full twist is given a difficulty of G. For a G skill a gymnast earns 0.7; for an E, he or she earns
0.5 points.
 CR: Gymnasts must demonstrate skills from four required Element Groups on each apparatus.
A gymnast may use skills to fulfill the DV and the CR simultaneously. For each CR presented,
0.5 points are awarded. A maximum score of 2.00 points may be earned here. From 2008-
2016, there were five different Element Groups for each apparatus, allowing a gymnast to earn
up to 2.5 points. In the 2017 Code of Points, it was reduced down to four.
 CV: Extra points are given for connections of two or more elements of specific value, with 0.1
or 0.2 points apiece up to a maximum of 0.4 in total for connection
Although the D-score (or A) judging panel does not take deductions, they may decide not to give
gymnasts DV or CR points for elements that are performed with falls or performed incorrectly. A
gymnast may also lose CV credit if there are extra steps or pauses between skills that are meant to
be connected.
The D-score is open-ended; in theory a gymnast could obtain unlimited points by performing
connected skills although this was made harder in the 2009-2012 revision of the code when the
number of elements that counted towards the D-score was lowered.
The E-score (or Execution score) evaluates the performance: the execution and artistry of the
routine.

 The base score is 10.0 for all routines. E-score (or B) judging panel do not add to this, but
rather, take away points for errors in form, artistry, execution, technique and routine
composition. There is a 1.0 mark deduction for falling off an apparatus. Errors are judged to be
small, medium or large and respective 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 deductions are applied.
The D-score and E-score are added together for the gymnast's final mark.
This judging system applies to all WAG and MAG events except vault. Vault scoring is somewhat
different:

 Every vault has been assigned a specific points value in the Code. The D-score is simply this
value. Every gymnast performing the same vault will receive the same number of points.
 The E-score is the most important on this apparatus. Judges on this panel work from a 10.0
base mark and deduct for form, technique, execution and landing.
As with other apparatus, the D-score and E-score are added together for the gymnast's final mark.
There are several acts that completely invalidate the vault and result in a score of 0. These include
receiving spotting (assistance) from a coach, going before the signal and not using the U-shaped
safety mat for Yurchenko-style vaults.[6][7]
A inquiry into a gymnast's score can be initiated if it was felt that the score was too low. Only the D-
score can be contested, however.[8]
Pre-2006 Code[edit]
Skills: Every acrobatic and dance element was awarded a specific difficulty rating, ranging from A
(easiest) to “Super E” (hardest) in the Table of Elements. Gymnast earned bonus points by
performing difficult skills alone or in combination.
Required elements: Routine composition was decided by the gymnast and his or her coaches,
however, on every apparatus except vault there was a list of required elements (similar to the EGR
in the new Code) that had to be performed during the routine. Examples of required elements
included 360 degree turns on balance beam and a backwards salto (somersault) on floor exercise.
Base score: The base score was the default Start Value of the routine, provided the gymnast
fulfilled all required elements. This changed over the years and tended to lower as the codes went
on. For instance, for the 1992-1996 code, a base score of 9.4 was awarded if all of the basic
elements were fulfilled. For the 1996-2000 code, the base score was a 9.0. Finally, a base score of
8.8 was awarded for the 2000-2004 Olympic years. Before the new code, the base score again
dropped to an 8.6 but this was not adopted for a very long time (only 2005-2006).
Start Value: The Start Value (SV) of each routine was determined by adding the base score to the
bonus points earned from performing difficult elements and combinations. Ideally, a gymnast
wanted to have an SV as close to 10.0 as possible.
On vault, every vault was assigned a specific Start Value in the Code.
The score was determined by subtracting any deductions for poor form, execution, steps, falls or
other infractions from the SV.

FACTS

Gymnastics Facts
Gymnastics involves the use of physical strength, flexibility, balance, control,
power, agility and coordination to perform a variety of exercises. It is one of
the oldest sports in the world, dating back thousands of years to the ancient
Greeks. It has evolved over thousands of years to become the sport it is today,
although many of the competitions are rooted in ancient exercises. Today there
are gymnastics competitions in many countries and at the international level.
Gymnastics are a large part of the Olympic competitions held every four years.
There are governing bodies for gymnastics in each country as well as
internationally. International competitions are governed by the FIG (Federal
Internationale de Gymnastique).
Interesting Gymnastics Facts:
The word ‘gymnastics' is derived from a Greek word ‘gymnos' which means
‘naked'.

In Ancient Greece most of the gymnastics competitions were done in the

nude.

Vaults were not used in ancient gymnastics; instead they used bulls to jump
over.

Gymnastics was officially established as a sport in 1862.

In the United States the first instruction in gymnastics was given at Mount
Holyoke, in 1862.

Gymnastics were introduced at the 1896 Olympics.

The first Olympics competition for women was held in 1928.

In the Olympics there are eight different competitive events including the
Floor Exercise, Vault, Pommel Horse, Rings, Parallel Bars, Horizontal Bar,
Uneven Bars, and the Balance Beam.

In the Olympics only men can compete in the Rings, Parallel Bars, Horizontal
Bars, and Pommel Horse.

In the Olympics only women can compete in the Balance Beam and Uneven
Bars.

Both men and women can compete in the Floor Exercise and Vault
competition in the Olympics.

Gymnastic uniforms are made up of a leotard which is form-fitting,

comfortable and provide ease of movement. Leotard is named after a French
acrobat who lived from 1842 until 1870. His name was Jules Leotard. He
made the uniform popular but did not invent it.

Gymnasts use chalk to improve their grip, absorb sweat, and keep their
hands dry.

Difficult gymnastics moves are often names after exceptional gymnasts.

Three separate gymnastics moves are named after Kelly Garrison including
the ‘Super E'.

Rhythmic gymnastics competitions include the ball, the hoop, the ribbon, the
clubs, and the rope.

Trampolining and tumbling events include the individualized and

synchronized trampoline, double mini trampoline, and tumbling.

Acrobatic gymnastics, which were once referred to as Sport Acrobatics, are a

group gymnastic sport for men and women.

There are aerobic gymnastics and display gymnastics, which can be done by
large groups and are often done for entertainment purposes, such as the
Cirque de Soleil.

The first woman to win the World Gymnastics Competition was Marcia
Frederick.

The most decorated American female gymnast of all time is Shannon Miller.
She won two gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals.

16-year-old Mary Lou Retton won the 1984 Olympic gold medal in the
Women's All-Around event. She had a perfect performance on the vault and
was the very first American Olympic competitor to win that event.

16-year-old Carly Patterson won the 2004 Olympic gold medal in the
Women's All-Around event. She retired in 2006 because of lower back
issues.