Back in April 2016, Simone Biles was on the team for the Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships to be held in Washington that year. Along with her were other veterans- Aly Raisman, Ragan Smith, etc. But there was another one in the lot who didn’t have much experience as a senior. Surrounded by all this talent, that one gymnast thought she’d just watch and learn. However, when D-Day came, she defied expectations. But she could not be given a medal for it due to a controversial rule. Was it fair or not? Decide when you read.
That one gymnast was Laurie Hernandez. In her 2017 book, “I Got This: To Gold and Beyond,” Hernandez revealed that Marta, the coach back then, had placed her on that team “to gain more” experience. And Hernandez rightly did. In fact, she proved equal to the mighty challenge, too. But when the time came for the reward? Hernandez was ruled out. What stopped her? A controversial rule!
Back in 2017, Laurie Hernandez narrated in her book that her goal at the Pacific Rim Championships was to hit as many of her routines as possible. And not only did she do that, but everyone did. The entire team performed very well. But Laurie? She had filled in the big shoes! “It was a great feeling. I had an all-around score of 59.800, which contributed to the team’s first-place finish, and I also placed third individually, behind Simone and Aly.” But despite putting up such a great show, Hernandez continued, “I didn’t earn the all-round bronze, though…..”
Why? Well, Laurie Hernandez said, “because of a rule limiting medals to two gymnasts per country (in case one country was dominating and might sweep all the others.” That’s why the bronze went to Nagi Kajita of Japan. While Hernandez still felt great coming after two of America’s strongest gymnasts, Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, she could not get a medal due to the rule that is doubted by many. It was created for fairness, so that the powerhouse countries don’t scoop up all the medals. But it can often lead to outrage.
Yes, about this ‘two-per country’ rule, Aly Raisman had said in 2016, “It’s just stupid. I think the two-per-country rule is the dumbest thing ever.” In 2016, when Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and Gabby Douglas went 1-2-3 in qualifying, only Biles and Raisman made the all-around final because of the same rule. Also, the same year, Raisman and Douglas both missed the balance beam final despite having the seventh- and eighth-best scores in qualifying because Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez had finished ahead of them.
So, where did this controversial rule come from? As per USA Today, in 1973, the International Olympic Committee got concerned that the top countries were winning everything. That’s when the IOC suggested the international gymnastics federation do something and they set this rule limiting three gymnasts in the all-around final from the same country and two gymnasts in each event final. This was 1976. And once again in 2000, rules were changed, making it three in the all-around final to two.
But at the Pacific Rim Championships in 2016, Laurie Hernandez could have seriously won a lot. She was in great form. If it weren’t for this rule, she would have gotten a great boost. No wonder this rule is slammed by gymnastics legends too.
Simone Biles’ teammate Laurie was in form in 2016
At the Pacific Rim Championships, Laurie may have lost the all-around medal due to the two-country rule. But unfortunately, at the same event, she also lost another medal chance. Yes, both Hernandez and Simone Biles had qualified for the beam finals, but the management decided they needed to be well-rested for the Olympic Trials, so they would not compete. That’s how Hernandez lost another potential medal hope.
At the 2016 Jesolo Cup, right before the Pacific Rim Championships, Laurie had already tested her form. She’d won an all-around bronze behind two seniors, a silver on the vault, and a gold on the balance beam. So this Pacific Rim medal could have really added to her 2016 resume and contributed to her confidence. But the rule prevented her. What do you think of this? Was it fair or not? Let us know below!
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