What We’re Talking About
We are told not to believe our eyes and it’s becoming untenable. The gathering crowd all saw it, and yet what we were told was a lie. More than ever we need accountability and transparency. Unfortunately those wielding power mask their identities. This doesn’t instill confidence, it enrages. This powerful group claims they need anonymity yet everyone else involved already faces public scrutiny and is suffering from the consequences of their decisions.
I am, of course, talking about judging in college gymnastics. Every week GymCastic receives numerous letters and comments from listeners and fans wondering how they are supposed to enjoy watching the sport when impossible scores are given. Missed steps and hops, hitting the mat while swinging on bars, leaps that don’t get all the way around, missed handstands, separated legs, bent arms and knees… easily identifiable errors even to the untrained eye get completely ignored on the scoresheet.
Gymnastics Leaders: You’re Losing the Fans! (And you need to do something about it before it’s too late.)
What I’m witnessing I’ve seen before. In the late 1990s early 2000s professional boxing had a stable of global superstars who were household names. Unfortunately, fight after fight the scorecards would flash and it was as if the judges watched a different match than all of the fans. Sports are entertainment and watching a rigged game became less and less fun and so attention went elsewhere. Today, do you know the name of the current Heavyweight Champion of the World? Me neither.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way! For starters, connect the judging to the scores given and make it transparent. The most popular sport in America, football, lists every member of every officiating crew and they wear numbers while on the field so you can identify them when they’re making calls. Do you really think NFL fans don’t have things to say and are less intimidating?
Here’s the thing… every sport has bad calls. In gymnastics, maybe a coach stepped in front of the judge and they missed a deduction (this can be fixed). Or maybe the judge looked down or even blinked and missed something. Totally understandable. When you acknowledge human error and unforeseen circumstances you can find grace in the process. In fact, I’d even argue that what makes sports fun is bickering with friends over the occasional questionable call. What makes it a crisis, though, is when there is no discernible review of the calls and they happen over and over and over again.
This first big step is admitting there’s a problem. The fact that the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association created the Standardize Consistency in Officiating of Routine Evaluation (SCORE) Board seems to indicate they’re aware. The next step is to make it mandatory and demand action and change. Right now judges and schools can opt out. This should be non-negotiable. For those who don’t want to get on board, put out the list of “yes” and “no” votes. Let the fans know what coaches are responsible for holding the sport back. And for the judges who are opposed, if they can’t stand behind their work, perhaps this isn’t the position for them. This isn’t to punish anyone and this might sound harsh, but this creates a layer of accountability that doesn’t seem to exist and the sport is suffering because of it. By definition you can’t grow without change.
It might be that more tools are needed. How about a replay system? If you’re worried it will take too much time, maybe ditch the exhibition routines. Seriously, does any other sport let non-scoring competitors hop onto the field of play to practice field goals or free throws? It feels ridiculous. Of course the coaches and athletes love it for the experience, but it’s not nearly as important as making sure the scores are accurate.
It’s 2026, we could have real-time scoring displayed for the teams and fans alike. Maybe the NCAA should work with Fujitsu to integrate their system? Or why not allow each opposing team an opportunity to challenge a score or two each meet? This isn’t to create conflict, this is to add another layer of accountability–and it creates good drama during the review process.
Ultimately, those in power should be wary of taking the fandom for granted because trust and engagement are fickle. When people become disillusioned, the things we have all taken for granted will begin to collapse. We need to be honest. There’s a problem. Those with the power to effect change need to demand it and then follow through. Gaslighting fans and then making excuses is insulting and will further erode faith in the sport.
Feelings
- Oklahoma put to rest any argument that they aren’t the frontrunners
- Jordan Chiles got the flowers she deserves… from Beyoncé
- Wishing Ly Bui a speedy recovery
- Hat tip to Washington for continuing with their Pride meet
- Lilia Cosman’s death drop!
- Love that Jenny Rowland’s bookstore couture is available in the Florida bookstore
- Ciena Alipio should be a bigger star
- Appreciate the ribbon guide by Michigan State
- Genius marketing by UCLA to highlight Ashlee Sullivan’s choreography is authentically Britney Spears
- Gabby Gladieux doesn’t need a spot on bench
- Bonus: You should definitely get your Live Show Season Pass and/or your Cecile Landi Live Show Replay Ticket
Facts
- China and Mexico have been added to the American Cup roster
- 198.425: Oklahoma is the first team to break 198 in the 2026 season
- LSU is the second team (198.050)
- That score by the Tigers was the highest score in a home opener in school history
- Kailin Chio was perfect on beam
- Jordan Chiles was perfect on floor
- 9,887: Michigan State shattered their attendance record by over 3,500 attendees
- Alabama and Stanford are the only schools with two all-arounders ranked in the top 10
- Seven of the top 10 ranked schools are from the SEC
- UCLA’s lowest-ranked apparatus is floor
- Bonus: Get – The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles for under $5!
Award(s)
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- Act of Courage: CaMarah Williams
- Beautiful Beam Sequence – Delaney McMahon
What’s On the Socials?
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Quotes
“Christians, it is unchristlike for you to side with ICE. POINT. BLANK. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Period… Practice what you preach.”
~ CaMarah Williams, Human
The young freshman shared a social media post highlighting the hypocrisy extolled by those who claim to practice their faith.
♦
“I think we’re a gymnastics school now.”
~ Tom Izzo, Spartan Basketball Coach
Michigan State’s Hall of Fame coach opened his most recent press conference recognizing the huge turnout in the arena typically reserved for basketball.
♦
“If you look in the lockers, there’s what we call Easter eggs. Every championship we’ve won, there was a theme, and within those lockers, the themes are on the metal of the lockers.”
~ KJ Kindler, Details Champion
Coach Kindler gave a tour of the Sooner’s new $18 million facility and pointed out the thought and details that went into every decision. A perfect metaphor.
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What? You want even more? Join Club Gym Nerd and you get a bonus episode, College & Cocktails, every weekend after our meet of the week. Once the NCAA season is over you continue to get a weekly bonus episode every Friday afternoon. Plus you get access to all of our archives, exclusive content and more. Then we give the sober analysis on Monday (or Tuesday) after we’ve allowed the data to penetrate our feelings.
This column was composed and compiled by Steve Cooper, Editor at GymCastic and co-author of “The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles“; some thoughts culled from hosts Jessica O’Beirne and Spencer Barnes.
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