judging the Pan-Am Games

Never easy. Some of the most bizarre judging stories I’ve ever heard have come out of Central and South America.

Here’s one from the Women’s Team Competition:

From judge Grace Chiu who’s there as photographer:

The straddled Weiler was supposed to be devalued from a D to a C, according to the FIG WTC since Tokyo. It did not get applied yesterday to Shawn Johnson because Steve Butcher, MTC acting on behalf of absent Nellie Kim, clarified that the change can only be applied after six months‘ notice. Johnson benefits with a 0.4 and one placement ahead of Peng Peng Lee because of the timing of these Pan Am Games. I will be curious to see what Shawn does in 6 months.

That’s significant because vaunted Team USA nearly lost this meet. From Amanda Turner’s wrap-up post:

… The U.S. outscored the field on vault and uneven bars, but performed disastrously on balance beam and floor exercise. Olympic champion Shawn Johnson, who won four golds at the 2007 Pan American Games, dropped off on her standing full and slipped off again on a simple switch leap. Newcomer Jessie Deziel posted the top scores for the U.S. team on balance beam (13.275) and floor exercise (13.150).

Peng-Peng Lee led Canada, which could have won with a stronger performance on uneven bars. The team had the top totals on both balance beam and floor exercise, with Mikaela Gerber posting the best floor score (13.950). …

IG – US Women Defend Pan Am Games Team Title

Full WAG results from that link, too.

New WTC for PAGU (Pan American Gymnastics Union) …

President:
Naomi Valenzo – MEX

Members:
Helen Laliberte – CAN
Irene De Diaz – ESA
Yazaira Cabrera-Davila – PUR
Thays Colina – VEN
Yumi Sawasato – BRA