ethics – should gymnasts be replaced in Finals?

International Gymnast is reporting that:

… 2005 world champion Hiroyuki Tomita will replace one of his teammates to compete in the all-around final in Beijing, Japanese head coach Koji Gushiken said. …

Koki Sakamoto who qualified 5th AA will be replaced by Tomita who finished 6th. (Tomita fell on Vault.)

But is this “right”?

Fair?

How does Sakamoto feel about it?

… My personal opinion is that it is fair. It is right. It is ethical.

Coaches in sport are responsible to put up the best players at game time. Not easy, sure. But that is the coach’s job.

In the past the replaced athlete was required to announce they were “injured”. That deception always bothered me. I assume coaches no longer have to live that lie.

And I’m looking forward to Tomita challenging for an AA medal!