Just another opinion is a thoughtful commenter on this site.
A recent observation:
… frankly, I find men’s floor routines a little silly as is. I’d much prefer them abandon the “floor†part of the routine and just use a strip. Tumble down, turn around, tumble back, repeat as necessary. I think it’s a little silly seeing them hitchkick and side-scale and prancey-hop to get into the corners. As is, it’s just a little too dancey for what I think they should be showing off. But that’s just my opinion.
Good point.
Men’s Floor exercise — in my opinion — was ruined by the Russian men. At one point in history Russia became the dominant gymnastics nation. A decision was made in Russia to minimize the connecting elements. What we traditionally called “the corner moves”.
The beginning of the end of artistry in Men’s Floor may well have been Andrianov.
Before that Floor was a very entertaining event. Menichelli from Italy, the 1964 Olympic champion, as one example.
Or even this guy …
Click PLAY or watch Kurt Thomas at the 1979 World Championships on YouTube.
In recent years only the occasional Floor routine offers much artistry, Shewfelt being the obvious example,
Instead of making Floor a tumbling competition — as acrobatic tumblers are far better — instead why don’t we deduct stops? Continuous motion required except for designated HOLD parts.
That’s what made Kurt Thomas so interesting to watch back in the day.
Kurt is a coach in Texas, now, of course.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 