The new gymnastics format is terrible

[theSurlyMermaid]

Well, the gymnastics competition has been puzzling and disappointing, and largely because of the stupid new format (well, and the fact that team USA was lackluster). 3 competitors on each apparatus...all scores count? It is unduly harsh to not be able to drop the lowest score the way they used to. And they also used to have almost all the girls compete on each apparatus (one would sit out for each, I think). The more gymnastics to watch, the better!

I guess the reason for the change was to enable each team to do each apparatus basically one at a time and thus prevent distraction from four things going on at once? (I know other countries complained heavily that in Atlanta the screaming for team USA was distracting other ongoing events.) I don't know. But whatever the reason, this new format was absolutely awful.

And another thing, where on EARTH was Courtney McCool? She didn't do one routine last night! Shouldn't everyone on the team have to compete at least once?

Disappointing, odd, lackluster competition. I doubt these new changes last very long at all.

 

[danacara]

Originally posted by theSurlyMermaid
(well, and the fact that team USA was lackluster). ...
And another thing, where on EARTH was Courtney McCool? She didn't do one routine last night! Shouldn't everyone on the team have to compete at least once?

Dude, it was a silver medal. Maybe we look at "lackluster" in different ways.

I agree, no Courtney McCool ... that was strange.

I thought Mohini Bhardwaj was the story of the team. To pull out that beam routine with zero warning, that was a lot of presence of mind on her part.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by danacara
Dude, it was a silver medal. Maybe we look at "lackluster" in different ways.

I was thinking the same thing. Olympic silver is a pretty good performance, I would think.

Would you be as upset with the format had the US gotten gold?

 

[snoopy]

Yeah, "Mo" was the real hero for the Americans.

I'm not a fan of gymnastics for the most part, I only watch it during the Olympics, but I didn't think the routines were lackluster either. I enjoyed them. Then again, I'm no expert, I just sit there in awe that these girls have the ability to do these contortions with their bodies.

Although the one girl from Russia, wow, while she looks positively anorexic next to these muscle bound little squirts, her grace so far outweighs all the other girls. Loved watching her, even if she does have a look to kill on her face most of the time.

 

[HollyJoy]

I have mixed feelings about the new scoring rule. I do like the fact that all scores count, but I agree with you that I like to see as many gymnasts compete as possible! It seems as though the competetion was over very quickly. The girls were just a bit off last night, and even though I would have loved to see them win the Gold, the Romanians did deserve it. Silver is not bad at all! Now I turn my eyes to the individual events and am rooting for our Maryland girl, Courtney Kupets! Go Courtney!!!!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Ahhh, I just found out what happened to Courtney McCool....she was benched after her qualifying performance because of her errors.

Wow. Poor kid. Her Olympics is over. I doubt she qualified for the all-around or any of the event finals.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer04/gymnastics/news/story?id=1861555


The truly ironic thing is that at least her mistakes came on a qualifying round. Maybe she would have been settled down and done much better last night...instead the two huge stars faltered big-time. Now we'll never know.


I feel very bad for Courtney McCool.

 

[Kallison]

I think the Rom's deserved Gold and the US deserved Silver. But then again what do I know? When they deduct points I"m thinking, Holy Cow the girl just flipped a gazillion times with no hands on a tiny piece of wood!!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

If the USA had won gold it would have been pure luck (the Romanians would have had to do jumping jacks during the floor exercise for the US to win)...and my problems with the format would have been the same. The more girls that compete the better. This event just seemed very off.....maybe the low attendance also had something to do with it.

And I couldn't care less what medals we win, but I guarantee you USA gymnastics is devastated by last night's performance. They could have won the gold but they screwed up and didn't. Did you see the faces of everyone last night? You'd think they didn't medal at all. I'm giving you the facts, not my opinion. Bela Karolyi was consoling his wife...you think they're happy? They're not.

 

[vernon]

I have to agree I don't like the format.

It means teams are more likely to play it safe, than allow the fourth gymnast ( after 3 solid team performances) to really go for a stunning display. IMHO it rewards consistancy more than excellence, which isn't what sport should be about AND it detracts from the spectacle.

As far as the US team goes I think a silver is an excellent result. There were four teams with the ability to win medals and they took 2nd place to the deserved winners. I agree I thought Mohini Bhardwaj's beam performances was outstanding.

 

[dizagain]

Me too...I felt SO bad for Courtney McCool. Then again, I bet she felt pretty relaxed last night! I was very impressed with "Mo" and her last minute performance on the beam...they said she hadn't been on it at all in three days. Then again, I sort of felt they should have let Courtney McCool do it.

I wish they let more than three girls perform in each event...I don't mind about the scoring so much and I think it would even out more with more competitors. Such pressure, but it's so fun to watch. I had to drag DD's to bed at 10 and tell them the outcome (which I knew ahead of time because I couldn't stand it and looked on the internet!!). I wish they had started broadcasting at 7 instead of 8 - that way they would have seen the whole thing - I just couldn't let them stay up any longer as we're back in school and they'd already stayed up an hour late.

Go Carly!!! Go Courtney!!! Not sure who's up on individual events, but, go USA!!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I also only watch Gymnastics once every 4 years but to me there is no comparison to how self-assured and confident the Romanian team looks compared to the Americans who always look like they are thinking:

"please just 2 more moves don't let me fall just 10 more seconds up here I please let me get through this without falling I know I'm gonna fall please please please let me get off this thing without breaking my neck"

Well, regardless what those kids do out there is amazing. Stuff I couldn't do even when I was young and limber and underweight. Courtney McCool is only 16 years old and I'm sure she still has a wonderful college career ahead. If she wants it bad enough, she can probably even go to at least one more Olympics -- that Mohini girl is 25 after all.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

The pressure is just so much worse now...they used to do two vaults and count the higher score, which was good for nerves. And dropping the lowest score...well, I personally liked the idea because then anyone who has a really freak mistake (like Patterson last night) doesn't have to feel so responsible. It's already so hard....why make it even worse, especially mentally? It seemed more team-like before...every girl had to prove her stuff on every apparatus except one and that's a better judge of which is the best team...not who are the best three girls on each apparatus.


ETA: TobysFriend, you are so right. Maybe it's because my own nerves are less frayed watching the Romanians, but they are so confident, so assured...you just never have any reason to be nervous. Especially on beam...they are incredible. Even on their weak apparatus (bars), they made it through without any terrible mistakes. They deserved to win the gold.

 

[HollyJoy]

Originally posted by theSurlyMermaid
Ahhh, I just found out what happened to Courtney McCool....she was benched after her qualifying performance because of her errors.

Wow. Poor kid. Her Olympics is over. I doubt she qualified for the all-around or any of the event finals.

This olympics may be over for her, but I'm sure we'll see her again in 4 years!

 

[missypie]

I found the live results on the NBC website yesterday afternoon, and for about an hour, I was refreshing about every minute to follow the scores (then I could relax when I watched it on TV). What the new format tests is which team can stand up to EXTREME pressure the best.

The line up for who would participate in the team finals had been announced the day before. Courtney McCool was never in the line up. I think they were worried about where her head was and that she'd fall off the beam or do something else to really lose points. I feel so bad for her BUT she still has an Olympic medal. I believe that she was the only one who didn't qualify for any event finals. You have to hand it to her, though...she was right there last night, the first one to hug each girl as they finished, with a smile on her face. It must have been very difficult, but she did it.

We can all say how terrible for her to be out of the competition after two small mistakes, but that is probably what did in all the terrific gymnasts who didn't even make the team. Just think - we have Holly Vise and Chelsea Memmel who were on the world championship team (I believe Holly is the world champion on beam) not even on the Olympic team. All of those terrific athletes know the huge consequences for small mistakes but have chosen to stay with the sport despite the huge pressure. Hats off to all of them!

 

[cati]

xx

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

HollyJoy, I'm sure we will. She seems incredibly talented and there's no reason she shouldn't be in Beijing '08. But after all her family wnet through to get to Athens, it is just sad that she was benched.

Also, how unbelievable is it that her parents didn't get free tickets to the event because she was "only" an alternate. Excuse me? How obnoxious!

 

[Tinks]

I agree that something in the competition seemed "off" last night. I'm not sure if it is the new format or ???? but it wasn't as enjoyable to watch. I also agree that the Americans seemed less self-confident than the Romanians.
One thing: I do applaud the fact that no matter how each routine went last night, the girls were always supporting eachother and lifting eachother up. I know that in my teens I would have been really crabby if I screwed up on a routine and ruined my teams chances for a gold....so crabby I would've been pouting for hours! Those girls handled themselves respectfully.

 

[LisaSt]

TSM you mentioned about the benching. Well look at may high calibre sports if the athlete is not performing well they sit out why should it be any different with this. If your QB in football is not playing well they get pulled the goalie in hockey same deal I have no problem with somone being benched for not performing up to par it is all part of sports. Speaking of free tickets look at the athletes from Canada our athletes pay their own way there and have to raise money to compete and train for themselves our funding is very low for this type of stuff. They even have to pay for their own passes and tickets for their guests.

 

[dizagain]

I forgot to mention that one of my favorite things about watching these gymnastics has been watching the Russian and Romanian girls and coaches. In my opinion, they have really loosened up a little and I have seen real hugs and shining smiles. In the past I have always felt so bad for them because there was so little emotion allowed - I know there are many cultural differences that limit emotional demonstration. I have just enjoyed watching them express the care and love I know the have for one another. Those Romanians were awesome and no matter what, they deserved the gold. I think our silver was a great accomplishment and I hope the girls can let themselves enjoy it.

 

[Tinkbell]

I thought USA did a good job, but the Romanians were flawless. As a spectator, I actually like the new rules. It was exciting to watch . It gives everyone a chance at a medal. If your top team makes mistakes, a lesser team can overtake them with a clean performance. It does make it harder on the girls though.