In the world of elite gymnastics, precision is paramount, and the pursuit of a perfect 10, once the ultimate goal, is now a distant memory. Even elite gymnasts like Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and Rebeca Andrade haven’t achieved a perfect execution score, despite it being the top mark. The reason? Because even tiny mistakes lead to big deductions, gymnasts often feel the judging system unfairly punishes them for just being there. But hold on. Change is brewing.
Now, nearly two decades after the introduction of the current system, a movement is emerging. One of the towering figures in gymnastics—an athlete, a coach, or perhaps even a coalition of past and present legends—is determined to restore the Perfect 10 to its former glory. The mission? To challenge FIG, rally the gymnastics community, and redefine what elite competition should stand for. But how can this be done? The legend has an idea, and she is already implementing it.
Romanian gymnastics legend is determined to uproot things
In 2006, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) dismantled the Perfect 10 system, replacing it with an open-ended scoring model that emphasized difficulty over flawlessness. This move was meant to reward gymnasts pushing the boundaries of athleticism. However, it also meant that the pursuit of perfection—once the pinnacle of the sport—became an unattainable dream. But Nadia Comaneci doesn’t want the dream she once lived to remain unattainable. So, she wants to “find a way to bring the 10 back.” But again, the question reaches the gate of “how.” While speaking to Olympics.com this month in Madrid, the 63-year-old shared her idea.
Being the stalwart of the sport, Nadia Comaneci carries a key responsibility: to preserve the essence of gymnastics. She remains in close contact with FIG, offering her insights on ways to enhance the sport. According to her, she has consistently provided recommendations for improvements, and now, another pressing issue has landed on her desk.
“It’s there, you can get a 10 in execution, but everyone is looking—gymnastics is well known for the 10. I’m in touch with the FIG all the time, so I give suggestions,” the gymnastics legend remarked. However, the five-time Olympic champion understands the limitations of her influence. She will advocate for change but within the scope of her authority. The final decision, however, rests in the hands of the FIG.
“I don’t know what I’d change, but I would be going forward to tell the FIG if I have something that would help,” Nadia concluded. A cryptic but promising statement—suggesting that she, too, recognizes the need for transformation but is navigating a complex political landscape. But what has changed now from Nadia Comaneci’s time?
The perfect tens that came 49 years ago
“Comăneci’s extraordinary accomplishments not only established her as a legendary figure in gymnastics but also left an enduring impact on the sport, serving as an inspiration for generations of athletes aiming for greatness.” These words, posted by a gymnastics fan on X (formerly Twitter) two years ago, capture the essence of her legacy. But what exactly did Nadia Comăneci achieve that made her name immortal?
On July 18, 1976, the world witnessed something that had never happened before—a gymnast scoring a perfect 10. The then 14-year-old Romanian phenom delivered an impeccable routine on the uneven bars at the Montreal Olympics, forcing the judges’ hands. However, there was just one problem: the electronic scoreboard was never programmed to display a 10.0. Instead, it flashed “1.00,” leaving the crowd and commentators in stunned disbelief. Had the judges made an error? Was this a mistake? No. It was history in the making.
The officials quickly corrected the confusion, and the world learned that a teenager had just shattered the ceiling of perfection. But Comăneci wasn’t done. She kept the officials busy throughout the Games, racking up not one, not two, but seven perfect 10s. She left Montreal with three Olympic gold medals around her neck, solidifying herself as a legend.
Later, Mary Lou Retton and others followed in her footsteps, achieving perfect 10s on the Olympic stage. But everything changed in 2004 when FIG uncovered inconsistencies in gymnastics scoring. Two years later, in 2006, the governing body replaced the perfect 10 system with the current open-ended scoring model, ensuring that difficulty, rather than perfection, became the deciding factor in competition. So, the road ahead is challenging, but the dream of perfection is eternal. The perfect 10 might be lost beneath a pile of deductions today, but with enough determination, it could make a comeback and take its rightful place on the scoreboard at the world’s biggest stage—the Olympic Games.
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