The new gymnastics format is terrible

[missypie]

Does anyone know if the new format was adopted for just Olympic competition, or if it is a rule change for all international competions? I can live with the rule change if the athletes can, but if it was in any way suggested by the TV networks I will be irate.

As for benching....I totally agree. But it's just easier to see some highly paid big ol' hockey player be benched than a cute teenaged girl whose face shows every emotion.

Every Olympics I am overcome by what these girls/women accomplish - especially the teenagers. I just had to tear up when the Romanians were listening to their national anthem. Those girls live away from their families and devote their entire lives to the sport. They are the faces of all the kids who have the extraordinary drive to get to the Olympics...think of all the TV they haven't watched, sleepovers they've missed, ice cream they haven't eaten...such dedication at such a young age.

 

[nuke]

I don't have a problem with the new format at all. These athletes are supposed to be the best of the best in their field. They should be able to step up to the plate in a high pressure situation and pull off their best routines.

The Romanians are so sharp. They rarely have form flaws and stick their landings. I am always holding my breath when the American girls compete because they 90% of the time blow it on the landing.

Last night the deserving team won the gold and the silver.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

As another person who only watches every 4 years, I'm rooting for Courtney Kupets. Why? Because she SMILES. Courtney McCool has a perpetual pained expression, even when I saw her doing well. Maybe it's since my girls are dancers, but everything looks better with a smile. I know they're under a lot of stress to be awesome, stay skinny, whatever, but they are on the olympic team and I'd like to see them enjoy it!
Robin M.

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by Rock'n Robin
I know they're under a lot of stress to be awesome, stay skinny, whatever, but they are on the olympic team and I'd like to see them enjoy it!
Robin M.

I agree, Robin. That's why I was sad to see that the US women gymnasts skipped the Opening Ceremonies to "stay focused".

Who knows? Maybe if they attended, they would have loosened up a bit, had FUN, and pulled off a better performance.

But yes, yesterday the Romanians WERE the better team. And after all the turmoil and controversy they have endured since their last Olympics, it's nice to see how well they've rebuilt.

 

[missypie]

I'm a Kupets fan, too. My girls are always rooting for Carly Patterson because she's a local girl, but I admit that I enjoy watching Kupets more.

Who I REALLY enjoyed watching were the Romanian MEN the night before. The American guys were all stony faced, high 5s and macho, while the Romanian team members and coaches were clearly having the time of their lives. I've never seen a group of guys hug each other so much!

 

[snoopy]

I agree the American girls need to loosen up, but they looked positively gleeful next to the Russian diva! Thats a person who seriously needs to take a happy pill. I never saw her smile once.

 

[cheyita]

Originally posted by cati
I agree. I also think the USA is going to have to start working more and "sticking" their tumbling routines. They just dont look as confident as the last 2 olympic games. I follow gymnastic alot and have since I was just a little girl. These girls are good, but just not like the teams we have had in the past. I feel really sorry for them. I thought Romania deserved the Gold last night. They were shining, especially on the floor. I am very proud of the USA girls for winning the Silver. That is something that is to be VERY proud of. But I do hope some of them can win a gold individually. We will have to "stay tuned" tomorrow (is it tomorrow???).

ITA cati. I had this same conversation with my mom this morning. I remember Mary Lou Retton's 10 - I wonder if we will see anything close to a 10 at all during these Olympics. None of the routines yesterday by our girls were a "10" quality. Maybe they save those for the individual events, so as to not take unnecessary chances? And I remember being completely awed by Dominique Dawes on the floor. I didn't feel that way about our girls yesterday, although I was pretty amazed at the Romanians.

Don't get me wrong - I am proud of our girls for their silver, and thought they have some very strong points. But I definitely believe Romania has the superior gymnastic team.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Originally posted by snoopy
I agree the American girls need to loosen up, but they looked positively gleeful next to the Russian diva! Thats a person who seriously needs to take a happy pill. I never saw her smile once.

There is something about the Russian (Svetlana?) that I have never liked. She always seemed really umm..crabby. I was surprised when I saw her again this year. I thought maybe she retired.

I think it was her attitude last year when she won silver. This year she was ecstatic just to get bronze.

 

[disney4us2002]

Snoopy, do you mean the tallish (she's probably all of 5'3" but appears tall next to rest) anorexic looking woman? I did see her smile - TWICE! Both times during her floor routine. I think she was quite happy about that performance but the rest of the time she seemed either unhappy or annoyed. Someone needs to give her a happy meal to enjoy with her happy pill; she could use the calories!

Is it posted somewhere which athletes are eligible for the individual medals? I haven't seen it mentioned for either men or women.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by disney4us2002

Is it posted somewhere which athletes are eligible for the individual medals? I haven't seen it mentioned for either men or women.

http://sports.yahoo.com/oly/gymnastics/results?day=14
http://sports.yahoo.com/oly/gymnastics/results?day=15

The people with asterisks next to their name qualified for the individual finals.

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by disney4us2002
Snoopy, do you mean the tallish (she's probably all of 5'3" but appears tall next to rest) anorexic looking woman? I did see her smile - TWICE! Both times during her floor routine. I think she was quite happy about that performance but the rest of the time she seemed either unhappy or annoyed. Someone needs to give her a happy meal to enjoy with her happy pill; she could use the calories!

Is it posted somewhere which athletes are eligible for the individual medals? I haven't seen it mentioned for either men or women.

Yes, that is the one I am talking about. She is positively exquisite to watch, so much more graceful than the other girls, but man, she needs to cheer up. I must have left the room when she was smiling because she looked miserable the whole night.

 

[MelessaG]

I thought they were doing something different this time! I couldn't put my finger on it, so thanks for explaining it. I don't like it either. I didn't see the women compete last night, but I did watch the men's competition on Mon. DH and I go to church with Guard Young. He's another one who had to come through on a moment's notice.

 

[cheyita]

Do they only allow two contestants from each nation to compete in individual events? Is that why some girls with a higher score don't have asterisks than those below them?

And I forgot to add my two cents about the new format. I like it that they don't drop the lowest score. In many other sports, the contestants have one opportunity to do their best and there is no room for mistakes.

I do not like only seeing three contestants on each apparatus. If it is a time constraint issue, then they should have the same three compete on all apparatuses, so each country should send their most well-rounded gymnasts.

 

[snoopy]

I didn't pay attention to the old format, or I've forgotten what it was 4 years ago. Can someone remind me?

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by snoopy
Yes, that is the one I am talking about. She is positively exquisite to watch, so much more graceful than the other girls, but man, she needs to cheer up. I must have left the room when she was smiling because she looked miserable the whole night.

Svetlana Khorkina.

Doesn't she look a lot like Uma Thurman (minus about 30 pounds)?

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by Deb in IA
Svetlana Khorkina.

Doesn't she look a lot like Uma Thurman (minus about 30 pounds)?

And minus about 8 inches. She only looks tall because she is standing next to those teeny tiny women, but I bet she is no more than 5'4" or so. Uma Thurman is over 6 feet, I believe. But yeah, she does look similar.

 

[Az Pirates]

Originally posted by snoopy
I didn't pay attention to the old format, or I've forgotten what it was 4 years ago. Can someone remind me?

It's changed a little at a time the past few olympics.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but I think it went like this:

Used to be
Team= 6 members
All compete
top 5 scores count

Then went to
Team= 6
5 compete
4 count

Now
Team= 6
3 compete
3 count

I actually like the fact that the coaches can pick the top athletes for each event. That's how it is at the collegiate level.
I wish we would see that more at the lower levels.
Not every gymnast has to be an all around contender.
I think that would open the door for better routines on all the events.

There is a girl at my DD's gym who is the state champion on beam and scores well on floor and vault as well - she just is not very good on bars. She's ready to quit the team she is so frustrated.
If she could make it to the collegiate level - it wouldn't matter. She couldn't compete in the all around - but would be such an asset to any team in her strength areas. Just don't put her on bars - no biggie.

 

[snoopy]

Thanks for that explanation.

I think I like this new format better too.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Svetlana Khorkina is 5'5. She models in Russia (I think they mentioned that at least 12 times, as well as the fact that she's a "diva").

Also, a note about scoring. Like the format (which I think was a change for the worse) the scoring has also undergone a bazillion changes. It is virtually impossible to get a 10.0 now. there will probably never be one again.

Now a score of a 9.6 or 9.7 means you did your routine almost perfectly. I don't think I've seen higher than a 9.8 in the recent past, although I think occasionally you may still see a 9.9 or two.

 

[cheyita]

Originally posted by theSurlyMermaid
Also, a note about scoring. Like the format (which I think was a change for the worse) the scoring has also undergone a bazillion changes. It is virtually impossible to get a 10.0 now. there will probably never be one again.

Now a score of a 9.6 or 9.7 means you did your routine almost perfectly. I don't think I've seen higher than a 9.8 in the recent past, although I think occasionally you may still see a 9.9 or two.

Why is that? What have they changed about the scoring? Just curious...