Everything You Need to Know About the Scoring in Gymnastics, Because Yeah, It's Complicated

An internationally competitive routine at the senior level requires five types of elements: flight elements between the two bars, a flight element on the same bar, a non-flight element with a turn on the bar, a minimum of two different kinds of grips, and a dismount. Each skill is then given the appropriate number of points, depending on its level of difficulty, and if it was correctly executed, the execution score is added on top of that for a final total.

Men's high bar is fairly similar to the women's uneven bar event in terms of the elements. Gymnasts are scored on various grips, swings, aerial work, turns, and a dismount.

Men also compete on parallel bars, where they're required to complete a series of continuous swings and flight elements, as well as a dismount. Deductions are assessed for errors such as a gymnast moving his hands along the bars in a handstand.

The balance beam is an apparatus exclusive to the women's competition. Judges evaluate the routines based on their required elements: an appropriate mount and dismount, a full turn on one foot, one series of two acrobatic skills, a connection of two dance elements (one must be a jump with legs in a 180-degree split), and acrobatic elements in different directions. Deductions are taken for any errors, including moments where the gymnast has to check for balance or wobbles, as well as for falls.

Pommel horse is only competed by men, and it's considered one of the toughest events, since its lack of static holds means it requires more detailed technique than sheer strength. Scoring in this event includes required elements such as single leg swings and "scissors," travels, and circles and flairs, which typically include spindles and handstands as well. Judges will deduct points if the gymnast doesn't adequately move along each section of the pommel horse, as well as for any pauses and for bumping into the apparatus during the routine.

There are three segments of a vault routine: pre-flight, repulsion, and flight. Pre-flight is the word used to describe the way a gymnast approaches the vaulting apparatus, by running down the mat and, at the elite level, often performing a complex entry onto the springboard. After pushing off the vaulting apparatus itself (repulsion), gymnasts must perform aerial elements such as flips and twists, then land cleanly in a designated area of the mat. Points can be deducted for not "sticking" the landing (i.e. when a gymnast has to hop or step after landing to catch her balance), as well as for other errors throughout the vault.

Women's floor routines are the most visibly artistic of all the events, as they include custom music and usually allow for a lot of personality to shine through. Routines consist of tumbling passes and series of dance elements like jumps and leaps, among other skills. A gymnast can perform up to four tumbling passes (at the top tier of senior-level competition, three or four tumbling passes are required), which often include at least one flight element. Deductions can occur for not using the whole mat, for making technical errors, and, oddly, for having lyrics in their music.

Men's floor routines are similar in nature to the women's event, but the exact execution differs quite a bit. Male gymnasts do not perform to music, and the emphasis is more on strength and flexibility; their required elements include handstands, along with the usual acrobatic elements (flips and twists). Most of their deductions are along the same lines as those for women: using the same path for an acrobatic sequence more than once, not using the whole mat, and a lack of flexibility.