Scoring System Idea....

This is just an idea that's been floating around in my mind a bit recently. It's an idea for a 10-point scoring system- BUT, instead of being calculated like the old system, this would be an average between a 10-point execution score and a 10-point ROV score.

The E-score would work much the same as the E-score does now (though I'd still want it to be less rigid). The ROV score would have a 5-point D-score (or I guess it would be R-score) and the remaining five points for originality and virtuosity (with artistry included in there, of course). I can hear the complaints now: "Difficulty is being given a higher advantage over artistry!" But the D-score would be similar where eight A elements would still earn a score, if only a nominal one. A gymnast with a full 5 in difficulty(/risk?) but only 1.2 for originality and virtuosity would score lower than a gymnast with the same execution but a 4 in difficulty but a 3.8 in originality and virtuosity. Hopefully the top gymnasts would be scoring higher then 3.8 in originality and virtuosity, but even that with 4 points of difficulty can beat a full difficulty gymnast who is very poor in originality and virtuosity.

How the risk score would be calculated is a bit interesting to think about. First of all, what to do about CR? Should they be included in the risk score or deducted from the total risk score afterward if not fulfilled? Obviously, they shouldn't be .5 apiece in this system, as that would be half the risk score. .3 apiece would be 1.5 total and leave 3.5 to be earned, and .2 would be 1.0 and leave 4 points to be earned. .2 apiece would seem like the option that is best for requiring high difficulty from the gymnasts, but would it make fulfilling all the CR worth it? That's the trickiest part of it for me. Then the question becomes how to calculate the score. Ultimately, it would be similar in difficulty of elements and combination bonus. It should be hard enough to earn a 5 that the average gymnast can't but attainable enough that the top gymnasts on each event can. Perhaps there can be base scores for routines (all A/B elements, all C elements, half D half C elements, etc.) with bonuses for more difficult elements. Or, there could, of course, just be a variation of the current system. Also, perhaps the risk score should encourage risk more then the current D-score and reward gymnasts who do rare combinations of the same skill difficulty value as other more common combinations (Onodi+Yang Bo vs. front aerial+sheep, Ellie's 5/2 to double vs. 3/2 to 5/2) or just add touches of risk such as Catherine Lyons's balance before her full Y-spin.

The originality score would do just what it says- reward originality. These could be the same instances as mentioned above about different combinations of the same difficulty value as common ones and including balances before spins, etc. This could also encourage doing unique mounts/dismounts on bars and beam. Ultimately, this would just reward those who make their routines stand out and dare to be different. It would give gymnasts a reason to put together routines that are exciting and eye-catching when an easier route to the same difficulty is available in the COP. It would reward gymnasts who don't just have a cavalcade of cross split dance skills, who use non-toe-on Shaposh variations, who use high-low transitions other than Paks and bails, and who generally make a statement with their routines.

Virtuosity is where I believe artistry would be rewarded. The virtuosity score would be about rewarding the icing on the cake: amplitude, oversplit on simple leaps and jumps, exceptional toe point, releve, carriage, flexibility, floatiness (especially on bars), and, yes, artistry. The virtuosity score would reward routines full of confidence and where not even a fingernail seems out of place. This score would encourage gymnasts to go above and beyond in their presentation and to focus on the details- though, ultimately, a routine with huge, obvious errors but great details such as those listed shouldn't be getting a full virtuosity score either. This is the Eythora Thorsdottir score: clean, precise, artistic gymnastics.

So, here's what I'm thinking about how it could break down on each event:
Bars:
R- 5.0
O- 3.0
V- 2.0
-1.0 amplitude
-1.0 general virtuosity

Beam:
R- 5.0
O- 2.0
V- 3.0
-2.0 artistry
-1.0 general virtuosity

Floor:
R- 5.0
O- 1.5/2.0
V- 3.0
-2.5 artistry
- .5/1.0 general virtuosity


The one sticking point then becomes vault. How would scoring for that work? Ultimately, each vault would need a set originality score, and having so much set aside for originality and virtuosity seems a bit excessive. Perhaps originality could be factored into the risk score, and then have (ROV score/2)+(E-score*.75). Then that just leaves the question, what to do about virtuosity? Should that just be left alone in the vault score? Should the risk score just be out of 4/4.5 and then have the rest for virtuosity? That's the one place that would really be confusing and difficult to call. Any ideas?

So, like I said, this is just an idea that I've had for a little while. It's definitely not a finished COP, but I think it could be interesting and might really provide some more reward for the full-package routine. Any thoughts?

Old Events on YouTube

I've found a great collection of old meets on YouTube I thought I'd share with you guys. There may end up being a part two of this, I've recently been finding a bunch more too! The channels are all great resources, so you should go subscribe.

1966 Worlds EF (Tribute2the80s)

Such a gem! Not only does it have the gymnasts (check out the pre-1968 drama Vera Caz and Natalia Kuchinskaya showdown), it's got COMMENTARY! Such an exciting find! Only a few gymnasts per event and there's a big glitch in one of them, but good quality and it's only about half an hour, so it's great if you don't have too much time.

1972 Olympics EF (dudnik and chocdave)

The first two have all the EF routines, and the second two have CBS coverage of the UB and FX final. Check out the crowd reaction to Olga Korbut's placement! Also, have to love Tamara Lazakovich's floor. I'm sure I found the beam final once, but I can't find it again...

1977 Euros EF (thelegendofNeshka)

All routines, absolutely fabulous! Not the greatest sound quality (TONS of background white noise), but still all routines from the 1977 Euros. Nadia, Nellie Kim, Emilia Eberle, Elena Mukhina, and one of my favorite Soviets who is totally underrated, Maria Filatova. Lots of good East Germans too. And so many Korbut-style skills on bars!

1977 World Cup

This one has at least ten parts, so I'll only post the first one. Filatova and Mukhina on display again, and Shaposhnikova joins them too. All right, I lied a little, this channel isn't as good for videos, but still a great competition here!

1978 Worlds EF (thelegendofNeshka, again)

This one's especially great because it cuts straight to the routines, so you get to watch all the gymnastics without it lasting forever. All the same Soviets, Nadia, Steffi Kraker Vera Cerna, and some great early Americans- Marcia Frederick wins the USA's first Worlds gold and Kathy Johnson has her beautiful balletic floor here.

1979 Euros EF (Fallen Star)

The same crowd again, Mukhina wowing with her bars, Nadia surprising with her medals- but what is really exciting about this one is it has Eberle's acid-trip routine with her music! The only instance of it I've been able to find. Easily the highlight of this one for me.

Euros Predictions

I've just realized Euros are RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER (I was expecting more buzz on The Gymternet, TCG, etc.), so I'm getting down to making my predictions!

All Around
1. Giulia Steingruber
2. Erika Fasana
3. Maria Kharenkova
Con of Aliya and Larisa missing Euros: No Aliya and Larisa
Pro of Aliya and Larisa missing Euros: This is going to be one crazy final
I do think Giulia will end up with the title- high difficulty vault and floor, respectable bars with good combinations, and improved consistency on beam. I do also think Fasana will leave with a medal- I said it on my Jesolo post and I'm sticking to it! Kharenkova did well at Russian champs, and I'm not as concerned about her imploding as I am everyone else. Others in contention are the British all arounders, Laura Jurca, Diana Bulimar, Marta Pihan-Kulesza (PLEASE), Eythora Thorsdottir, Vanessa Ferrari, Alla Soz, and maybe one of the Germans or one of the French girls. Too exciting! My dream podium would be Marta, Amy Tinkler, and Eythora. For now, anyway- too many good choices!


Vault
Finalists:
Alla Sosnitskaya
Giulia Steingruber
Noel van Klaveren
Ellie Downie
Claudia Fragapane
Teja Belak
Tjasa Kysselef
Noemi Makra

Podium:
1. Alla Sosnitskaya
2. Claudia Fragapane
3. Giulia Steingruber
I'm hoping for Pavs still, but not holding my breath. Unless Giulia has added a DTY recently, I don't think she'll be able to go beyond bronze. Her position there might be in jeopardy too. Teja Belak's been doing well for herself recently. Ellie Downie might also have a chance, her DTY is lovely.


Uneven Bars
Finalists:
Daria Spiridonova
Noemi Makra
Jonna Adlerteg
Ana Filipa Martins
Marta Pihan-Kulesza
Andreea Iridon
Ida Gustaffson
Becky Downie

Podium:
1. Daria Spiridonova
2. Jonna Adlerteg
3. Becky Downie
I know, I know, but Becky's just been having so many troubles with bars this year! British champs always make predictions so annoying because it's always a splat-fest, and you never know whether it will actually carry into competition. I do think Daria will be the champion, she's been on fire on bars this year! I think Jonna will land on the podium; she has such nice bars and has been cracking this year! I feel like I'm missing out on someone obvious in the finalist predictions, and Bulimar and another Russian could also kick someone out.


Beam
Finalists:
Maria Kharenkova
Laura Jurca
Diana Bulimar
Eythora Thorsdottir
Sanne Wevers
Marta Pihan-Kulesza
Claire Martins
Carlotta Ferlito

Podium:
1. Maria Kharenkova
2. Diana Bulimar
3. Eythora Throsdottir
I feel like, with this one, there's Maria at the top and then a bunch who score high 13s-low 14s. Eythora and Sanne HAVE to hit it out of the park!!!! Diana is super solid on beam and really beautiful, so I think she'll be medaling. Eythora's routine is beautiful and her form is perfect and it's so artistic and she doea have a 2.5 dismount and she HAS to get a medal, and I'm restraining myself by only putting her in bronze because I can't get my hopes too high. Same with Sanne off the podium. We all know Maria has the gold in the bag, with such little tough competition she can relax with this one. So many beautiful beam workers at Euros who won't get to shine at Worlds, I'm so glad we get to see them here! If Ellie Downie miraculously breaks her my-scores-look-like-they-came-out-of-the-2004-quad streak and actually hits a routine, she should be in here. My dream podium would be Sanne, Eythora, and Claire.


Floor
Finalists:
Giulia Steingruber
Claudia Fragapane
Erika Fasana
Ksenia Afanasyeva
Alla Sosnitskaya
Diana Bulimar
Amy Tinkler
Vanessa Ferrari

Podium:
1. Ksenia Afanasyeva
2. Erika Fasana
3. Giulia Steingruber
I think this one should be close between Erika, Giulia, Amy, and Claudia for silver and bronze. If Afan goes clean, she should take the gold fairly easily. This should be a good floor final, really close and lots of beautiful work. I think Marta might kick out Vanessa if she's having an off day, which she has displayed this season.


So, how wrong do you think I am? Which final are you most looking forward to? Who is that incredibly obvious bar worker I'm totally missing?

Routine of the Week

This routine is by Michelle Goodwin at the 1982 World Cup. She was a very prominent gymnast in the American gymnastics scene in the early 80s, but didn't make the Los Angeles Olympic team. I tend not to like routines on the close-set bars after about 1980 because I absolutely HATE giants on them, but this routine has nary a giant in sight! The mount is breathtaking! I also love the hecht half release she does straight away. The transition series from 0:14 is so quick, and all the changes are really exciting. She finishes with a great stuck dismount over the low bar, which just always seems so daring. This is what I love to see on the close bars- lots of movement from high to low, unique skills, and perfect flow.