USA Gymnastics Women's Team Finals: participants, format, scoring

Gymnastics has always been one of the most-watched sports in the Olympics, especially in the USA where one of the biggest Olympic stars is set to break records. Simone Biles has the potential to bring home the gold in every event. She would become the oldest American woman to win the all-around Olympic gold.

This year, Biles has been met with more competition than in previous years. At the qualifying round, the Russian Olympic Committee out-performed. Team USA has been kicked out of the first place spot. However, Team USA gymnastics has a wonderful opportunity to redeem themselves in the women’s finals.

The Russian Olympic Committee finished in first place with a score of 171.629, and Team USA finished with a score of 170.562.

Although Biles had a difficult run in the qualifiers compared to her typical performance, she qualified for every event. Team USA qualified the maximum number of spots, meaning USA Gymnastics has a lot to prove at the Team Finals on July 27th.

How does scoring work in gymnastics?

Gymnastics scoring is based on a difficulty score and an execution score. The difficulty score refers to the level of difficulty that the skills and/or combinations take and the eight most difficult scores are counted (in women’s gymnastics). Connection value and element requirements are both considered in the difficulty score.

The execution score refers to how well the gymnast executes the skills and combinations. Artistry, composition, technique, and execution are all considered in this score. Each gymnast, therefore, starts with a 10. Depending on the errors, points get deducted from the overall score.

Gymnasts earn both a ‘D score’ and an ‘E score.’ Each of these scores is combined. The judging panel is also split when it comes to scoring. There is a D panel and an E panel that is expected to calculate the two scores. Finally, there is a reference panel, which corrects errors or problems with the execution score.

The final score is determined by adding the ‘D score’ and the ‘E score’ and then subtracting any neutral deductions. This could range from an athlete stepping out of bounds (which happened to Simone Biles in the qualifiers), falls, time violations, etc.

Has an Olympian ever achieved a perfect score?

Nadia Comaneci became the first Olympian to receive a perfect score in 1976 at a mere 14 years old on the uneven bars.

Who is participating in Team USA Gymnastics for the Women’s Team Finals?

Jade Carey will be competing as an individual in the vault on August 1st and floor exercise on August 2nd.

Because of the two per country rule, MyKayla Skinner did not qualify for the women’s all-around as an individual competitor. Skinner had the fourth-highest score of the day on vault, yet because of the rule, meaning she will not continue in the 2021 Olympic Games.

What are the different disciplines for the Women’s Team Finals?

Team USA will start on vault on Tuesday, July 27th. The team will then rotate with ROC to uneven bars, beam, and floor. All teams go into the team final with a fresh slate, meaning the scores at the qualifiers no longer matter. Scores at the qualifiers were important in order to qualify for the Team Finals.

Watch the women’s team USA at the Olympics: times and dates to watch live

Watch the women’s team USA at the Olympics: times and dates to watch the prerecorded events on TV

AS English will be providing live coverage of all other major events. and the medal count.