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Olympic medal with a fall

August 11th, 2012 | ethics, Gymnastics, Olympics, vault

In London, McKayla collected a Silver with this.

1. IZBASA
2. MARONEY
3. PASEKA

4. BERGER
5. CHUSOVITINA
6. PENA ABREU

Many want a Code of Points where a fall in the final drops you off the podium.

Lauren Hopkins on Couch Gymnast:

If the 2012 Olympic Games used the proposed (2016) code rather than this quadrennium’s code, the standings would look something like this:

1. Sandra Izbasa (ROM) – 14.433
2. Maria Paseka (RUS) – 14.050
3. Janine Berger (GER) – 13.884

4. McKayla Maroney (USA) – 13.766
5. Oksana Chusovitina (GER) – 13.360
6. Brittany Rogers (CAN) – 12.960

[(SV V1 + SV V2) / 2] + [10.0 - (V1 + V2 deductions)] = Score

… It’s also interesting to note that had this “execution over difficulty”-based vault finals code existed in 2008, Alicia Sacramone would have won gold with her Rudi and DTY.

Maroney would not get medal under new Code

related – korbutflip – Vault standings if the 2013 COP were in place

12 comments ↓

#1 Caleb on 08.11.12 at 6:30 am

It’s a tough decision that’s for sure, but I do agree in principal with making a change like this to ensure that gymnasts are focused on perfect execution, not just mediocre execution with a higher SV. Let’s not punish the gymnasts too much for attempting the harder skills though because I think that would be a step backwards after what has happened in the last 10 years since the new score system was introduced.

Having said that, it’s a good thing Maroney didn’t win gold with a fall…

#2 Ono No Komachi on 08.11.12 at 8:01 am

Giving a zero for falling on vault, maybe.

What happened with Maroney may also have something to do with the way the WAG code is constructed and how far ahead she was able to get ahead of her competition before the event even started because of her D score.

In MAG, if Yang Hak Seon had eaten a 1 point fall, he would have gone from first to tied for last.

#3 Ono No Komachi on 08.11.12 at 8:06 am

Actually, that’s not right, but Yang would not have been in the medals with a fall in his final. Maroney was helped out because a lot of her competitors crashed even harder.

#4 Tmoney on 08.11.12 at 8:56 am

What take a chill pill. What is like her only mess up in over a year. Plus she was doing it on a broken toe. Half of you couldn’t even walk on a broken toe her first vault alone is better than everyone else she deserves the silver so go to hell.

#5 Coach S on 08.11.12 at 10:41 am

People are actually defending her medal with a fall? Wow.

#6 Ono No Komachi on 08.11.12 at 11:06 am

Tmoney, sports are about what you can do on the appointed day, and on the appointed day Maroney fell on her butt.

#7 NGM on 08.11.12 at 11:42 am

I was not OK with Cheng Fei’s medal in 2008. She did not come close to completing the vault, yet it’s difficulty score held her in the medal position. I feel Maroney completed her vault and didn’t land it, and I (personally) see those as two different things. I know others won’t agree with me on this and that’s OK.

Compare to a runner who might stumble and yet recover enough to medal. We would celebrate his overcoming. Sprinters have to be pretty perfect their whole race, but there are plenty of other events where having a problem in competition is not a death knell. Isn’t a two vault event final similar? Two chances, averaging the score, produces the best vaulters in the world. Maroney, even sitting, was doing harder vaults with better execution than others and was able to hold second position. I’m OK with that.

So, yes Coach S, I’m OK with her medal. :)

I think a fall counting as a zero will eliminate all efforts at doing any difficulty. Many of you complain about NCAA lack of difficulty – that would happen here as well if the risk of a fluke fall was a total zero.

#8 shergymrag on 08.11.12 at 1:52 pm

I support the new rules. It would’ve been nice if they were in effect in London. Hopefully, the FIG isn’t just teasing.

#9 Tmoney on 08.11.12 at 2:34 pm

Ono Comanche how many times has she messed up this is the first time. In well over a year. Plus if she didn’t do it and took the injury card . People like you would complain she isn’t competing somebody like her deserves a pass every other gymnast competing vaults mess up .

#10 Emmy on 08.11.12 at 2:44 pm

Agree with you NGM. That is a great comparison.

#11 Caleb on 08.11.12 at 4:31 pm

Let’s not forget that Maroney did her first vault perfectly (almost). If she had fallen on both she wouldn’t have been in the running. I agree with the sprinter analogy; even in low level gymnastics we teach kids how to cover a mistake on beam or floor.

#12 Jazz on 08.12.12 at 12:14 am

I agree with what is being proposed for the new Code Of Points. That should have been implemented since long ago.

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