The First Ever Men’s Uneven Bar Champion
August 13th, 2008
Although I’m enjoying this year’s Olympics more than any since 1984 so far, it’s pretty obvious that gymnastics judging is at best, flawed beyond belief, and at worst, completely fixed. How these judges rationalize giving 8.8 scores to routines without any major flaws when their peers are giving 9.3s is beyond me. I’m looking at you, Argentinian judge.
Thankfully, we have world class athletes in our country breaking barriers outside the strong arm of the Beijing Olympic judging committee. Case in point, “buddysteve”, the first ever Men’s Uneven Bar World Champion who risks life, limb, and package in this video to prove to the world that the uneven bars is not just a women’s event. Go Steve:
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I’ve definitely been thinking that if any sport needs instant reply, I definitely think it is all of these Olympic events that rely on judges exclusively for scoring.
Do we really expect even a trained eye to notice close to every detail of these routines, many of of which last only seconds?
Considering that many of these athletes dedicate years of training for this one event, doesn’t it make some sense to take a minute or two and let the judges watch the routines via video and with all that implies, replay, closeups, slow motion, etc…
No, Adam, that doesn’t make sense. The Olympics go on long enough to be adding 1-2 minutes to EVERY routine. Judging, of any kind, is inherently flawed (because humans are inherently flawed). It’s been this way since the beginning. Why do we have to discuss it year after year after year, in all judged disciplines…
Realistically, there is a subjective element to all things that are judged whether it be Olympic gymnastics, peach pie at the county fair or a lawsuit. It is the nature of the beast.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure that Gymnastics does have instant replay. I could have sworn while watching the coverage they showed a clip of a judge re-looking at a clip in slow-motion on a laptop, and the announcer was discussing how they thought this was a bad idea.
Exactly. It’s a subjective event, we know that heading into it, it is just the way it is.
It is why I like “real” sports better though like swimming, beach volleyball, and track and field.
Andy is correct.
Judges of gymnastic events are allowed to and do use instant replay regularly.
Search YouTube for “Paul Hunt”
He has some great routines. Not just uneven bars, but also balance beam, floor exercises, etc.