This happened a month ago. But I post now because I couldn’t resist linking to this excellent photo:
original – flickr – HeffTech
Someday the “brains” at F.I.G. are going to realize what a mistake they’ve made giving up the “perfect 10”. (That’s what happens when an organization listens to the judges instead of the marketing department.)
There was a bit of a story to this score, as well:
One judge saw it as a 10.0 routine. The other judge, Mary Ann Mahoney, gave it a 9.95 – that is, until she saw the other judge’s score and quickly changed her mark to a 10.0 as well. Postell’s 10.0s
Mahoney’s action was wrong, since judges are supposed to rate routines independently of one another and should not change their score based on the other judge’s opinion.
Mahoney declined to be interviewed by members of the media afterward.
Regardless of the actual number, Postell said she felt the vault was the best she has performed.
“I was just happy I stuck it; I was running back like, ‘whatever,’ ” she said.
Utah coach Greg Marsden said he didn’t see the judge change her score, but that it didn’t matter to him what Postell earned because he knew what he saw.
“I know it was the best vault Ashley has done since she has been here,” he said. “She absolutely nailed it. She just dropped out of it and nailed it.” …
Utah gymnastics: Postell’s perfect 10 vaults Utes to victory – Salt Lake City Tribune
I couldn’t find the vault on YouTube. Here it is, the first one shown in this montage on YouTube. (Slow run. Helps control the landing, I assume.)
Thanks Stephanie.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 