Originally published Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Gymnastics | U.S. Olympic Trials using controversial Code of Points

At this week's U.S. Olympic team trials, and in August for a first time in an Olympics, gymnastics' complex scoring system — its revised Code of Points — will be in effect.

By Philadelphia Inquirer

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Bela Karolyi

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PHILADELPHIA — Bela Karolyi remembers when his star pupil, Nadia Comaneci, scored gymnastics' first perfect 10 in 1976. The Romanian teenager's performance was understandable even to those who couldn't distinguish a pike position from a pirouette.

But the perfect 10, like the sport's old vaulting horses, has been mothballed. At this week's U.S. Olympic team trials, and in August for a first time in an Olympics, gymnastics' complex scoring system — its revised Code of Points — will be in effect.

The trials begin tonight with the first day of men's competition. Women's competition starts Friday.

The sport's governing body, the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), made the changes after the 2004 Olympics to prevent controversy. In theory, it allows judges more wiggle room in differentiating performances.

"Before, the space was so tight between a 9.6 and 10.0 value for a routine, it was hard for judges to clearly delineate," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.

Still, the change, which took effect at the 2006 world championships, has been criticized by some of the sport's most recognizable figures.

"Why take the simple perfect 10 out?" asked Karolyi, the legendary Transylvania-born coach. "It was so understandable. It was our trademark. ... It gave us such visibility and recognition.

"Now they pull it out and push in some complicated [stuff] that nobody understands. ... It's terrible. Terrible."

Simply put, the old system started each competitor with an ideal score of 10. Each misstep drew a deduction from a single panel of judges.

The revised code has an open-ended scoring system. It divides a routine into two categories, each graded by a separate panel of judges.

The result will be totals generally in the 14- to 16-point range, with exceptional gymnasts perhaps hitting 17.

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