Perfection in collegiate gymnastics is a rare gem. Only a select few Florida gymnasts have ever reached it. But Friday night against Auburn, the Gators weren’t content with just one flawless routine—they delivered another. It was a night of excellence, precision, and history in motion. The Gators claimed their spectacular victory with 8,556 people in attendance at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. As the routines unfolded, the energy soared, and the surprises kept coming.
Not all of it was pretty though, the Gators stumbled on the vault. But in the fourth spot, senior Leanne Wong stepped up, nailing a 9.9—the highest vault score for Florida that night. Then came the balance beam, a test of precision where the Gators had struggled in recent meets. This time, Wong was untouchable. She floated, twisted, and twirled with effortless grace. As she stuck her landing, a knowing smile flashed across her face. She felt it. The crowd felt it. And when the perfect 10.000 lit up the screen, over 9,000 fans roared in celebration. After years of near-misses, the two-time Team USA Olympic alternate had finally reached perfection.
And Planet of Gymnastics wasted no time celebrating, reposting the Gators’ moment with the caption: “PERFECTION. @leannewong03 with a perfect 10.000!!!!!!!!!!!” Wong’s flawless routine on the balance beam marked the ninth perfect 10 of her career and her third on beam—a testament to her dominance. But here’s where the twist comes in. While fans were thrilled for Wong, her perfect score sparked debate. Some Florida fans saw it as absolute perfection. Others weren’t convinced, questioning whether it truly deserved a 10.000.
But for Leanne Wong, there was no doubt—her routine was a perfect 10. She felt it before the score even flashed on the screen. “At the end of a routine, internally [you say] ‘That was good. I really hope for that 10.’ When it comes up, it’s really exciting, and you can have the whole team celebrating with you,” Wong shared. But the moment wasn’t without drama. Boos rained down from the O’Dome, fueling her fire on the beam. Instead of letting it shake her, Wong thrived under the pressure.
And in that moment, she wasn’t just competing—she was owning the stage. But as the crowd erupted, the celebration came with a twist. Some fans cheered in awe, embracing her moment of perfection. Others weren’t so sure, questioning if it truly deserved a perfect score. The debate heated up, and one fan summed up the controversy, commenting, “Literally took a hop. It was a 10, but not perfection :/ Judges are literally blind.”
And the criticism didn’t stop there. The debate raged, with skeptics picking apart every detail of Wong’s routine.
The gymnastics world divided over Leanne Wong’s controversial score
Leanne Wong lives by the mantra, “TRAIN INSANE OR remain the same.” And it shows. At just 20, her relentless work ethic and intense training are turning heads. The three-time All-SEC gymnast isn’t just chasing perfection—she’s demanding it. Wong’s determination paid off as she placed seventh on beam and ninth on floor, securing her spot as an alternate for Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
So, there’s no denying that Leanne Wong is a star—a gymnast with talent, drive, and a resume to prove it. But when the Gators took down No. 12 Auburn on Valentine’s Day with a 197.625 – 196.825 victory, not everyone was convinced her routine deserved a perfect 10. Not just haters, even fans took to social media with mixed reactions. “Love Leanne but this was not a 10… judges really love her and Florida overall,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Leanne is my favorite but that doesn’t appear to be a stick.”
Many even argued that judges might be biased towards the Gators and Wong, “Judges love her no matter what”. However, not everyone saw it that way. On the flip side, many believed Wong’s routine was worthy of perfection, standing by her grace, precision, and execution. Amid the heated debate, there was no shortage of love for Wong. One admirer cheered, “Yasss!!! ,” while another gushed, “SO here for LeAnne greatneee .” But the question remains—was it a perfect 10 or a 9.975? The conversation isn’t ending anytime soon.
One thing is certain, though—Wong’s journey is far from over. And as she continues to shine, we can only hope for more success, more moments, and maybe even more perfect 10s.
The post “Judges Are Literally Blind”: Gymnastics Community Angered as Florida Gators’ Leanne Wong Receives Unfair Perfect 10 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
