What do you think about gymnastic scoring?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
August 16, 2008 10:16am CST
So we were watching the gymnastics the other night, and I was getting quite frustrated. Nastia Liukin was just amazing, but kept getting very low scores. But one of the chinese girls was fumbling all over the place and she kept getting high scores. She landed on her butt on the vault, stumbled all over the balance beam, and messed up a twirl on the floor excersize. The only time she was awarded proper marks was the floor excersize.
I'm amazed Liukin and Johnson were able to get the gold and silver after the marks they kept recieving.
What do you think about this?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
Nastia Liukin is phenomenal 
I looooved watching her routines and this was a long time coming for her - did you see her dad when he knew she had sealed a gold? I don't know why she received some of the lower marks, I can't help but wonder if some of the judges possibly slant things towards or against a particular gymnast in hopes of helping 'their' country, but I doubt something like that could be proven. A lot of the judging is very subjective, even if they have the same ratings to decide, it is up to intepretation of each individual judge how well they feel the contestant did. It's not like all of them are on the same page when they decide their marks. Some of the gymnasts are very skilled in certain things, but there is also the showmanship aspect, fluidity, and making the audience feel it. If they cannot deliver those things, it might be a very good functional routine yet not receive the marks it would if those things were there.
I can use this philosophy towards say.. American Idol. I was disappointed that David Archuleta did not win. David Cook is an excellent singer and deserved the following he received, but I think Archuleta has more star quality and more innate talent. I got CHILLS from hearing him sing. I think either you feel it or you don't, and that's all there is to it. This is what the judges must face when scoring for Olympic events. As spectators, sometimes their choices do not make sense.
I looooved watching her routines and this was a long time coming for her - did you see her dad when he knew she had sealed a gold? I don't know why she received some of the lower marks, I can't help but wonder if some of the judges possibly slant things towards or against a particular gymnast in hopes of helping 'their' country, but I doubt something like that could be proven. A lot of the judging is very subjective, even if they have the same ratings to decide, it is up to intepretation of each individual judge how well they feel the contestant did. It's not like all of them are on the same page when they decide their marks. Some of the gymnasts are very skilled in certain things, but there is also the showmanship aspect, fluidity, and making the audience feel it. If they cannot deliver those things, it might be a very good functional routine yet not receive the marks it would if those things were there.
I can use this philosophy towards say.. American Idol. I was disappointed that David Archuleta did not win. David Cook is an excellent singer and deserved the following he received, but I think Archuleta has more star quality and more innate talent. I got CHILLS from hearing him sing. I think either you feel it or you don't, and that's all there is to it. This is what the judges must face when scoring for Olympic events. As spectators, sometimes their choices do not make sense.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
17 Aug 08
That's always been a problem in gymnastics... and when these scores were comming out, the commentators did say that the judging panel is made up of several different nationalities so that there would not be any prejudice towards one particular country.
I was totally shocked Nastia and Sara got gold and silver after their horribly low marks in the beginning of the event.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I think some of the better girls were scored too low. And, I do think favor was given to the Chinese. You have to admit they are good, but they aren't that good. I was glad to see that the two American girls did pull off the gold and silver medals. It would have been terrible had they not gotten those since they were so much better in everything than those other girls. I also heard that most of the Chinese girls weren't even old enough to be out there legally. They all looked SO young to me.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I heard that as well, but you'd think if there was the slightest bit of truth, they would have stopped the girls from competing until they could investigate it further.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I hadn't heard that part, but I sort of chalk it up to the Chinese nationality having a young look. Even adult asians don't look as old as they are to me.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
6 Dec 08
I was surprised by this scoring as well. It was because you score better for trying harder tickets, but not necessarily sticking the move. That makes risks more attractive than doing landing.
