Buckle up, folks because you’re in for a ride! This month, we had 35 perfect 10s, but as fans, athletes, commentators, and seemingly everyone other than the judging panel has acknowledged, not all 10.0s are created, or distributed, equally. Here I’ll break down the deductions I saw when watching the videos in real time, and rank the 10.0s from one to five stars. As a reminder, here’s my rating scale:
⭐ This was clearly not a 10.0 routine (but still very good!)
⭐⭐ There was definitely a deduction there, but maybe the judges blinked?
⭐⭐⭐ 10.0 vibes, but not actually perfect
⭐⭐⭐⭐ It was a “college 10”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 100% a perfect routine
With there being so many 10.0s this month, we split this month’s breakdown into two parts. Check out the first part below, and the second part next Friday.
Vault
Abby Heiskell, Michigan (Feb. 3)
Deductions
This was a textbook Yurchenko one and a half by Heiskell. Great height, distance, form, and a solid, definitive, controlled landing.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sierra Brooks, Michigan (Feb. 3)
Deductions
Leg separation (-0.050)
Brooks absolutely nailed this vault, but there was a bit of leg separation as she started to prepare to land, then landed with her feet slightly staggered, another clue that they came apart during her twist. Still, it was a beautiful vault, and I have no problem with this going 10.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Aleah Finnegan, LSU (Feb. 10)
Deductions
Bent legs (-0.050)
Rating: This vault was insanely clean, and her half turn from the board to the table was so smooth and fast that if you blinked, you’d miss it. The only thing I noticed was that she bent her knees a little early in her landing preparation (it’s hard to see in the picture because her legs are moving so fast). Overall, it was a beautiful vault for a well-deserved 10.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jocelyn Moore, Missouri (Feb. 19)
Deductions
Leg separation (-0.050)
Jocelyn Moore has a powerful, clean vault that looks deduction-free in real time. In slow motion, she has a tiny bit of leg separation on the table, which can only be seen because she starts twisting very early off the table. There is a deduction for beginning a twist too early on vault, but it doesn’t look like that was applied here, nor really ever in NCAA gymnastics. It’s definitely a 10 vault from me judging live, but technically she does have a deduction, so it’s not a five-star 10.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jade Carey, Oregon State (Feb. 18)
Deductions
Leg separation (-0.100)
Foot form (-0.100)
Jade’s Yurchenko double full is a powerful reminder as to why she’s one of the best vaulters in the world on the elite stage, with impressive height, distance, dynamics, and a beautiful landing. She does have some form issues, but it’s possible the judges couldn’t see the leg separation or the foot form as clearly from the side angle. This was definitely her best vault this season.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Bars
Sunisa Lee, Auburn (Feb. 3)
Deductions
Maloney (D)
Leg separation (-0.050)
This was a classic example of the beautifully executed bar routine that we’ve come to expect from Lee. She does have some leg separation on her Maloney, so it’s not 100% perfect, but it is likely invisible from the judges’ side angle.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Leanne Wong, Florida (Feb. 3)
Deductions
Maloney (D)
Leg separation (-0.050)
Double layout (E)
Leg separation (-0.050)
This routine was tricky for me to re-evaluate since the camera angle changes and is different from the angle of the judges. Wong’s legs are barely apart and even harder to see from the side. It’s definitely a college 10.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kayla DiCello, Florida (Feb. 10)
Deductions
Ray (E)
Bent arms (-0.050)
Pak salto (D)
Bent arms (-0.050)
Toe circle to handstand (C)
Bent arms (-0.050)
Giant swing (B)
Bent legs x2 (-0.050 each)
Full-twisting double back (E)
Leg separation (-0.050)
Trunk movements to maintain balance (-0.050)
DiCello has beautiful lines and leg form during her bar routines, but I could not unsee her bent arms or the obvious balance check on her landing. She also has a couple small adjustments to her grip, which could incur a rhythm deduction. I normally wouldn’t take a deduction for this, but she does it three times (twice before her Ray and once before her Pak), and bends her elbows when she lifts her hands. To me, it’s a bit distracting from the rhythm of the overall routine. Great routine from the Florida freshman, but it’s definitely not a 10 from me.
Rating: ⭐
Beam
Louisa Blanco, Alabama (Feb. 3)
Deductions
Front aerial (D)
Bent leg (-0.050)
Balance error (-0.050)
Trunk movements to maintain balance (-0.050)
Blanco definitely had a hit beam routine here, but even if you missed the bent leg in the front aerial, the balance check after her acro series and her lean forward and onto her toes on her landing were clear deductions that made this routine not quite a 10 for me.
Rating: ⭐⭐
Sunisa Lee, Auburn (Feb. 3)
Deductions
Flexed feet (-0.050)
Don’t hate me, but both of her feet are flexed when she’s upside down, and I don’t think her back foot ever points. Otherwise, it’s definitely a 10.0 and more 10-like than her January beam routine where I saw two small errors.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Leanne Wong, Florida (Feb. 3)
Deductions
Legs crossed (-0.050)
Trunk movements to maintain balance (-0.050)
Wong’s entire beam routine up until her dismount was absolutely perfect. I love that she goes for a more difficult dismount, but her legs are still crossed in her twist, and she, like Blanco, has a balance error on her landing where she’s clearly leaning forward and to the left and fighting for the stick. I will say, she is consistent, as this is almost identical to her previous 10.0 on beam in January.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Maile O’Keefe, Utah (Feb. 3)
Deductions
Flexed feet (-0.050)
Rhythm (-0.050)
Balance error (-0.050)
Lack of relevè (-0.050)
Since both Lee and O’Keefe flex their feet on their side aerial, maybe it’s just not possible to do the combination with pointed toes. On her leap pass, I’m not sure if she wobbled or if she’s just being careful, but this connection especially should move with a little more confidence. However, I think the clearest deduction was the balance error in her full turn where she’s clearly a bit overturned. However, with a sold-out crowd at home, this routine definitely has 10 vibes.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Natalie Wojcik, Michigan (Feb. 10)
Deductions
Bent arms (-0.050)
This was an absolutely stunning routine from Wojcik. Her beam work is punctuated with sharp, strong landings, as well as the beautiful execution we’re accustomed to seeing from Wojcik. I did notice that she bends her arms on her first back handspring, and since it’s my job to be picky, I had to point it out. But this would have been an easy 10 from me judging live because I doubt I would have been able to catch the arm bend the first time through.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trinity Thomas, Florida (Feb. 10)
Deductions
Balance error (-0.050)
Balance error (-0.050)
Lack of precision (-0.050)
Flexed feet (-0.050)
Small step (-0.050)
We all know Thomas is capable of perfection, but even she admits that this beam routine was not her best. Honestly, I was most impressed with how she didn’t fall on her switch leap mount, considering her foot was almost completely off the beam.
Rating: ⭐
Floor
Aleah Finnegan, LSU (Feb. 3)
Deductions
Small adjustment, right foot (-0.050)
Incomplete turn (-0.050)
With one of the most difficult floor routines in the NCAA, Finnegan definitely worked harder for this 10 than most of her competitors. Although she doesn’t need the connection from the Arabian double to the jump, the adjustment of her foot would have broken the connection and thrown off its rhythm. Finnegan also turns her body about 45 degrees on the floor before she starts her tour-jetè half. Even though she finishes on a straight angle with her beautiful switch ring, technically it’s under turned. Overall, it’s a beautiful routine and deserving of an NCAA 10, but she’ll have to be more careful with her leaps if she competes in elite gymnastics later this year.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mya Hooten, Minnesota (Feb. 4)
Deductions
Incomplete turn (-0.200)
Hooten has phenomenal tumbling with effortless landings. She has a little bit of leg separation and foot form on her back tumbling passes, but I think it’s only visible in the overhead camera angle, not from the judges’ perspectives. However, the precision of her turns in her leap pass is suspect. This could/should have been credited as a switch side quarter turn (C), straddle three-quarter turn (B). Devaluing the series would drop her score by two tenths or instead the judges could/should take the two tenths for under-turning her straddle full by 90 degrees but still give her the connection. Either way, it should be a pretty major deduction. I’d love to see her try a switch side half (D) to a straddle half (B) which would still give her the bonus she needs and may fix the problem.
Rating: ⭐⭐
Jessica Hutchinson, Denver (Feb. 5)
Deductions
This routine is already special because of its connection to her mother, 1992 Olympian Silvia Mitova. Hutchinson performs this routine with such beautiful form and precision. Coupling her execution with the unique music and choreography borrowed from her mother elevates it even further. This is the most deserving floor 10 I’ve seen so far this season.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jordan Chiles, UCLA (Feb. 11)
Deductions
Failure to maintain stretched body position (-0.100)
Incomplete turn (-0.100)
Incorrect alignment in dance (-0.050)
Chiles’ difficult, powerful tumbling and high-energy choreography make this such a fun and exciting routine that feels right at home with the rest of the UCLA floor lineup. However, this wasn’t a 10 for me because of her double layout and her dance pass. Although it’s hard to tell from this angle, it looks like she pikes down and lands with a low chest. On her dance pass, she should finish facing the corner at the end of her wolf full but doesn’t make it all the way around. She also travels sideways in the air on her wolf full, further indicating that something was a little off in the connection.
Rating: ⭐⭐
READ THIS NEXT: Judge’s Inquiry: Breaking Down January’s Perfect 10s
Article by Rhiannon Franck
Rhiannon Franck is a former national-rated NAWGJ women’s gymnastics judge with over 15 years of USAG judging experience and nine seasons judging NCAA gymnastics. Outside of gymnastics, Franck works at a university as a nursing professor and loves to travel. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
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Agree with all of these, except Jessica’s 5 star (10iest 10 according to article) there is a clear rebound where her front heel lifts completely off the floor while doing her “controlled” step. Def a college 10 but absolutely not the 10iest 10 that 10’ed this year! But I’d go 9.95 for sure!
That first vault she moved her feet and had a leg separation in the preflight.
This is the second article in which you tried to sound nice because you are afraid of being called out. There are more deductions you have not picked out when talking about Jade Carey.