Time – Heartache at Gymnastics: US’s Jordyn Wieber Misses Qualifying for All-Around Final
I cried.
Couch Gymnast:
… The shock elimination of Jordyn Wieber last night in the all-around competition has brought the two-per-country rule under fire from the media and the fans.
The rule, one that used to actually be a three-per-country rule before 2004, states that no more than two gymnasts from any nation can qualify to a final, no matter how high they qualify. …
Click through and you’ll find almost EVERYONE against the rule.
It does look terrible that the 4th AA gymnast in prelims is not allowed to contend for an AA medal.
But USA knew that one of their 3 AA gymnasts would be eliminated. It could just as easily have been one of the other two.
Aly’s Bars were … better. And she did a great job to earn the AA. Despite what Bela spouted, I’d have put Aly up last on both Beam and Floor.
I understand the logic behind both the 5-4-3 and 2 nation finals rules. They make the result less predictable. More interesting. More exciting.
In a sport where 4 nations win almost everything. We need that.
In Men’s gymnastics, for comparison, it’s far less necessary. You could drop it or keep it there. It wouldn’t make much difference.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 