The world of elite gymnastics has undergone a significant transformation since the introduction of its open-ended scoring system 18 years ago. The change has allowed athletes like Simone Biles to push the boundaries of difficulty and artistry, cementing America’s dominance in the sport. Biles, widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, has won numerous gold medals, including two individual titles and a team gold at her third consecutive Olympic Summer Games.
Meanwhile, the sport’s past glory was on display in Paris, where Nadia Comaneci, the legendary Romanian gymnast, was in attendance. Comaneci, who scored the first perfect 10 at the 1976 Games, has lived in the United States since defecting from Romania as a young woman. Despite her international celebrity status, Comaneci was in Paris to support Romania’s attempt to revive its former glory in the sport.
Romania once dominated women’s artistic gymnastics, medaling in the team all-arounds at every Summer Olympics from 1976 to 2012, except for three. However, the sport’s shift towards emphasizing acrobatic difficulty has made Romania’s focus on precision and execution seem outdated. After a decade-long drought, Romania sent its first WAG team to the Olympics since 2012, but ultimately fell short of a medal.
The Romanian team’s disappointment was compounded by a controversy surrounding the floor exercise final. Ana Barbosu was initially tied for third place, but was ultimately leapfrogged by American gymnast Jordan Chiles, who appealed a judgment that her routine was incomplete. The decision sparked outrage in Romania, with Comaneci and the country’s prime minister calling for a review of the results. The controversy highlights the tension between the traditional Eastern Bloc style of gymnastics and the more aggressive, athletic approach favored by American gymnasts like Biles.
