BOISE -- In Olympic gymnastics, it used to be all about that elusive "perfect 10." But a lot has changed since Mary Lou Retton won gold in 1984. In Olympic gymnastics today, a perfect score is near impossible.
“It’s not a 10.0 system anymore, it’s an open-ended system,” said Neil Resnick, Boise State gymnastics co-head coach.
In 2006, gymnastics did away with its 10-point scoring system. Instead, implementing one that rewards gymnasts for both execution and difficulty.
This generation of Olympians is scored by two sets of judges. The "execution" panel uses the traditional 10-point system and deducts points for missteps. The "difficulty" judges, however, work off a new system that starts at zero and "adds" points based on a routine's technical difficulty. There is no set maximum for this score.
“With an open-ended system and you happen to be exceptional - let’s say on vault - and you throw up a big score on vault. Well it gives you padding maybe not to be so good on bars,” said Resnick.
The judges' marks are averaged and then added together for a final score. The idea behind this new method is to allow for greater distinction between individual gymnasts' scores. With no restrictions on a "highest possible score" it also rewards athletes like America's Simone Biles for pushing the boundaries of the sport.
“She’s just something that we’ve never seen before,” said Resnick. “Just start by adding an extra twist and flip to everything that everybody else does. It’s mind-boggling her power, her strength and her finesse as well. I think she could fall twice and still win the meet”
A great score in the current system falls somewhere in the 15- to 16-point range, with anything higher considered exceptional. But with Biles at the helm in Rio, Team USA is looking test the limits of perfection.
“I think you’re going to see an Olympic record in terms of scoring in the all-around. I expect her to hit all four events and I expect her, more importantly to lead the U.S. to a gold medal.”
Women’s gymnastics is part of the primetime coverage that begins at 7 p.m. on KTVB.