After Worlds 2006, I understand Men’s FIG technical committee received permission to make some “minor†Code of Points adjustments.
The adjustments turned out to be much more than minor. In fact, on horizontal bar, start value, construction, expectations for performance and deductions for routines were changed drastically. Horizontal bar has become such a mess that coaches no longer know what-is-what related to the catch angle of pirouette into el-grip elements.
After decades of assuring that el-grip regrasp need not meet an amplitude requirement, now the deduction for most such elements is 0.5 !!
Many gymnasts need completely change their routines.
For example, here’s Aljaz Pegan’s high bar routine at the 2006 Worlds finals. He finished second with a score of 15.900.
Pegan’s same routine today would score around 12.90 !! (6 deductions at 0.5 each)
Is that fair? Is that smart?
Click PLAY or watch Pegan on YouTube.
I believe the IOC has a rule that there can be no new regulations within 2 years of the next Olympic Games.
Logically and ethically, once the Olympic selection process has begun (as it did in Aarhus) no major changes to the rules are acceptable.
Who’s to blame?
I’d start with Technical Committee Chair Adrian Stoica, the man in charge during the “Paul Hamm Fiasco” in 2004. The black eye on gymnastics named one of the “Top 10 North American Olympic follies” by Sports Illustrated.
Next I’d ask FIG Executive to quiz the MTC on just what they are trying to do? Set-up another huge scandal for 2008 in Beijing?
And if FIG refuses to recognize the problem, perhaps it’s time coaches contact IOC directly.
Everyone wants to see fewer turns to el-grip and mixed el-grip. But this ruling is nuts. I cannot believe the technical “experts” of the MTC would want to be party to it.
Leave a comment if you know more about the issue.
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