I blame the code of points.
Let’s compare 2008 Olympic Champion Zou Kai’s Floor routine with great Olympic routines past.
Click PLAY or watch Zou Kai on YouTube.
What exactly was artistic in that routine? Stylish? Unique?
If I want to see only great tumbling, I’ll go to a Trampoline and Tumbling competition.
Click PLAY or watch Shewfelt (2004) Gold.
Click PLAY or watch Nemov (2000) Silver.
Click PLAY or watch Milissandis (1996) Gold.
Personally, I like even better the stylin’ routines of the distant past, including Kurt Thomas.
Click PLAY or watch his winning Floor from Worlds. (1979)
He didn’t need to hold that press as the V-sit to Press fulfilled the requirement. And the start score was already the maximum 10.0
🙂
So why are Men’s routines today less artistic than ever before in history? And why doesn’t the Men’s FIG Technical committee do something about it?
Gymnastics Coaching.com 