For such an unusual judging system, there are remarkably few complaints about scores in Women’s College Gymnastics.
Until now …
Even though Utah’s gymnastics team beat Georgia 196.55-196.5 Friday, many in the crowd of 15,522 at the Huntsman Center were unhappy with the judging on floor and let the judges know it by booing several of Utah’s floor scores.
The No. 3 Utes scored a 49.125 on the floor with Gael Mackie recording a team-low of 9.575, and Kyndal Robarts and Jamie Deetscreek also earning low scores of 9.725 and 9.75, respectively.
While the marks might have surprised some in the crowd, they didn’t bother the Utes, who acknowledge they and the judges still are adjusting to some new judging codes and qualifications for deductions this year.
For example, on the floor judges previously could take up to a tenth of a point deduction when a gymnast crossed her legs on a twist. Now the code says the deduction is a tenth or nothing at all.
Robarts said her first pass “wasn’t very good,” and Utah coach Greg Marsden said he expects scores to be unpredictable for a bit longer.
“Everyone is still trying to get a handle on how to judge things and what deductions to take,” he said.
read more – New judging codes bring down scores
It’s time to start rewarding gymnasts who can keep their feet together on twists. Courtney McCool, for one.
Judges have been far too lenient on this deduction in both NCAA and FIG.
7 comments ↓
*Thank you* for mentioning crossed legs during twists. It makes me sick!
i second that as well.. I can’t stand it..if you can’t twist without crossing your legs you should not twist haha
McCool crosses her legs, too, but it’s not as obvious because she keeps them together until the last twist. I don’t see the big deal about crossing legs, take the deduction and move on, stop complaining about it like it’s the worst thing in the sport. I mean come on, it’s not like bending your knees on a split leap…
I can think of the number of gymnasts who do 2-1/2 and 3/1 with legs completely together on one hand. Sacramone is one, Larson is another. Then there’s…
Come on, people. It’s my opinion that as long as your legs are straight and TOGETHER, it’s not the end of the world and as long as the deduction is taken. You don’t see people complaining about Pavlova’s triples because she’s flawless and beautiful…
McCool crosses her legs?
I haven’t watched closely this season, but when she won Floor 2yrs ago she had far better form than any other College gymnast on twist.
At the 2004 Olympics she was by far the best FIG gymnast for form on twist.
I’ll check next time I get a good high res video this season.
Ah 2004, reminds me of Ponor, had terrible leg separations, bent knees and crossed feet in her twisting elements. Possibly the most over-rated gymnast of the competition. There were many gymnasts with far superior tumbling/dance but gold was given to the girl with messy twists and a bunch of twisting jumps.
Hey, Ponor wouldn’t have won outright had Cheng/Daiane gotten their acts together. But alas, they did not. Cheng’s jumps in 2004 were HORRIBLE…
And if you’ll notice Courtney’s triple twists on FX were always twisted into the ground, which often lead to short landings and side steps.
Here are some examples of Courtney’s leg crossing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/marcEmarc/McCooltwist.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/marcEmarc/McCool25.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/marcEmarc/McCooltwist2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/marcEmarc/McCooltwist3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/marcEmarc/McCooltwist4.jpg
Good sleuthing, Marcus.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/marcEmarc/McCool25.jpg
Still, she’s far better than anyone else from Athens.
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