The number of skills required in a Men’s Artistic Gymnastics routine may shrink from 10 to eight after the 2016 Olympic Games, FIG Men’s Technical Committee President Steve Butcher (USA) has confirmed.
Difficulty scores in Men’s Gymnastics are currently calculated based on the 10 most difficult skills shown in an exercise. …
“Regarding safety of the gymnasts, this potential change would reduce every exercise by 20 percent. This could result in fewer overuse injuries,” Butcher said. “Improving the safety of the gymnasts is always my primary concern. Reducing the amount of elements also brings the D-scores of the top gymnasts even closer, requiring even better execution in order to reach the finals and award podium.” …
The MTC is expected to make its decision regarding the number of elements for the next Olympic cycle during its September meeting in Krakow (POL). Any definitive change would also need to be approved by the FIG Executive Committee, however.
Grandi has always wanted MAG and WAG to require the same number of skills.
My gut feeling is that both Floor and Horizontal Bar would be instantly better with fewer counting skills. But those two could hardly be worse with any Code change.
Pommel Horse and P Bars are amazing now. They might be less amazing counting 8 skills.
Rings might be slightly better with eight. And safer. Gymnasts who cannot do multiple major strength holds would be more competitive on that apparatus.
Vault would not change, I assume. But right now there is far too much reward for difficulty, not enough credit for execution.
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