Alice D’Amato
With less than a week before world championships, we’re excited to share the final top scores update before the competition commences!
So far in 2022, we’ve covered 181 meets, seeing a total of 5,169 all-around performances, as well as 6,924 vault scores, 7,185 bars scores, 7,337 beam scores, and 7,090 floor scores, in addition to 1,987 two-vault attempts that get averaged for an event final (or qualification into a final).
Below, find a list of the top all-around and event scores thus far, as well as the top D scores for each event. A bold entry denotes the score has been added since our last update in September, an asterisk (*) next to the name denotes a junior competitor, and I’ve removed bonus from all domestic meets to keep things as accurate as possible. As a note, we only include juniors in the two-vault averages or D-score combos if they’re competing vaults from two different families, and if a competition uses bonuses but their score sheets don’t differentiate those bonuses from the totals, we don’t include those scores in our database.
The most recent update is October 24, 2022.
Best All-Around Scores
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Viktoria Listunova | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 58.233 |
2 | Rebeca Andrade | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 58.100 |
3 | Angelina Melnikova | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 57.933 |
4 | Shilese Jones | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 57.200 |
5 | Konnor McClain | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 56.400 |
6 | Jordan Chiles | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 56.150 |
7 | Alice D’Amato | Italy | Italian Championships QF | 56.000 |
8 | Kayla DiCello | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 55.950 |
9 | Martina Maggio | Italy | Italian Championships QF | 55.850 |
10 | Diana Kustova* | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 55.699 |
11 | Flavia Saraiva | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 55.666 |
12 | Jade Carey | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 55.650 |
13 | Vladislava Urazova | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 55.566 |
14 | Maria Minaeva | Russia | Russian Championships AA | 55.432 |
15 | Zhang Jin | China | Asian Championships AA | 55.400 |
16 | Alyona Glotova | Russia | Spartakiade AA | 55.398 |
17 | Qiu Qiyuan* | China | Chinese Championships QF | 55.350 |
18 | Skye Blakely | United States | U.S. Championships D2 | 55.250 |
19 | Giorgia Villa | Italy | Italian Championships QF | 55.200 |
20 | Asia D’Amato | Italy | European Championships TF | 55.199 |
21 | Elena Colas* | France | Top 12 Finals | 55.025 |
22 | Tang Xijing | China | Chinese Championships AA | 55.000 |
23 | Carolann Heduit | France | French Championships QF | 54.900 |
24 | Zsofia Kovacs | Hungary | Hungarian Championships AA | 54.800 |
25 | Ekaterina Andreeva* | Russia | Russian Championships QF | 54.732 |
26 | Aline Friess | France | French Test Meet | 54.700 |
27 | Jessica Gadirova | Great Britain | British Championships AA | 54.650 |
28 | Alice Kinsella | Great Britain | European Championships TF | 54.565 |
29 | Miyata Shoko | Japan | NHK Trophy | 54.532 |
30 | Leila Vasilieva* | Russia | Russian Championships AA | 54.432 |
31 | Leanne Wong | United States | U.S. Classic | 54.400 |
32 | Georgia Godwin | Australia | Australian Championships AA | 54.399 |
33 | Arina Semukhina | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 54.398 |
34 | Manila Esposito | Italy | Italian Championships QF | 54.350 |
35 | Ou Yushan | China | Chinese Championships AA | 54.250 |
36 | Ana Barbosu | Romania | Romanian Championships AA | 54.233 |
37 | Lexi Zeiss | United States | Pan Am Championships AA | 54.199 |
38 | Helen Kevric* | Germany | German Junior Championships AA | 54.168 |
39 | Zoey Molomo* | United States | U.S. Pan Ams Trials | 54.100 |
40 | Zlata Osokina* | Russia | Spartakiade AA | 54.099 |
41 | Elena Gerasimova | Russia | Russian Championships AA | 54.098 |
42 | Lyudmila Roshchina* | Russia | Russian Championships QF | 54.066 |
43 | Julia Soares | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 54.034 |
44 | Wu Ran | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 53.998 |
45 | Anna Esipova* | Russia | Russian Championships AA | 53.966 |
46 | He Licheng | China | Chinese Championships QF | 53.950 |
47 | Angela Andreoli | Italy | 3rd Italian Serie A | 53.750 |
Ondine Achampong | Great Britain | Commonwealth Games QF | 53.750 | |
49 | Anna Kalmykova* | Russia | Russian Championships QF | 53.732 |
50 | Wei Xiaoyuan | China | Chinese Championships AA | 53.700 |
Best Single Vault Scores
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Jade Carey | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 14.800 |
2 | Rebeca Andrade | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 14.700 |
3 | Skye Blakely | United States | U.S. Championships D2 | 14.650 |
4 | Shilese Jones | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 14.550 |
5 | Alice D’Amato | Italy | Italian Championships AA | 14.500 |
Zsofia Kovacs | Hungary | Elek Matolay Memorial AA | 14.500 | |
7 | Coline Devillard | France | French Test Meet | 14.450 |
8 | Elena Colas* | France | Top 12 Finals | 14.425 |
9 | Konnor McClain | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 14.400 |
Leanne Wong | United States | U.S. Classic | 14.400 | |
11 | Aline Friess | France | French Test Meet | 14.350 |
Jordan Chiles | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 14.350 | |
Katelyn Jong | United States | DTB Pokal Mixed Cup | 14.350 | |
Zoey Molomo* | United States | U.S. Pan Ams Trials AA | 14.350 | |
15 | Sarah Voss | Germany | European Championships TF | 14.333 |
16 | Amelia Disidore | United States | U.S. Championships D2 | 14.300 |
Kusumoto Hima | Japan | NHK Trophy | 14.300 | |
Kayla DiCello | United States | U.S. Championships D2 | 14.300 | |
Shallon Olsen | Canada | Elite Canada AA | 14.300 | |
Miyata Shoko | Japan | All-Japan Championships QF | 14.300 | |
Yeo Seojeong | South Korea | Asian Championships EF | 14.300 |
Best Vault Average Scores
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Jade Carey | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 14.650 |
2 | Jessica Gadirova | Great Britain | English Championships | 14.150 |
Jordan Chiles | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 14.150 | |
4 | Leanne Wong | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 14.125 |
5 | Yeo Seojeong | South Korea | Asian Championships EF | 14.040 |
6 | Ruby Pass* | Australia | Australian Championships QF | 13.999 |
7 | Asia D’Amato | Italy | City of Jesolo Trophy AA | 13.967 |
8 | Ushioku Koba | Japan | All-Japan Event Championships EF | 13.949 |
9 | Zsofia Kovacs | Hungary | European Championships EF | 13.933 |
10 | Saito Kanako* | Japan | All-Japan Event Championships EF | 13.916 |
11 | Leanne Wong | United States | U.S. Classic | 13.900 |
12 | Miyata Shoko | Japan | Asian Championships EF | 13.884 |
13 | Angelina Melnikova | Russia | Spartakiade EF | 13.883 |
14 | Teja Belak | Slovenia | Mersin Challenge Cup EF | 13.875 |
15 | Coline Devillard | France | Paris Challenge Cup EF | 13.850 |
16 | Viktoria Listunova | Russia | Russian Championships EF | 13.849 |
17 | Ahtziri Sandoval | Mexico | Mexican Championships | 13.833 |
18 | Qi Qi | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 13.817 |
19 | Aline Friess | France | French Championships AA | 13.725 |
20 | Joscelyn Roberson | United States | U.S. Classic | 13.700 |
Best Uneven Bars Scores
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Viktoria Listunova | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 15.300 |
2 | Angelina Melnikova | Russia | Russian Cup EF | 15.033 |
3 | Wei Xiaoyuan | China | Asian Championships AA | 15.000 |
Zsofia Kovacs | Hungary | Hungarian Championships EF | 15.000 | |
5 | Rebeca Andrade | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 14.967 |
6 | Luo Rui | China | Chinese Championships EF | 14.966 |
7 | Diana Kustova* | Russia | Spartakiade EF | 14.933 |
Maria Minaeva | Russia | Spartakiade AA | 14.933 | |
9 | Alice D’Amato | Italy | Italian Serie A Final Six | 14.900 |
Uliana Perebinosova | Russia | Russian Championships EF | 14.900 | |
11 | Shilese Jones | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 14.850 |
12 | Tang Xijing | China | Asian Championships EF | 14.700 |
13 | Alyona Glotova | Russia | Spartakiade AA | 14.666 |
Ekaterina Andreeva* | Russia | Russian Championships AA | 14.666 | |
Vladislava Urazova | Russia | Russian Cup QF | 14.666 | |
16 | Anastasia Iliankova | Russia | Russian Cup QF | 14.633 |
Zoe Miller | United States | U.S. Pan Ams Trials EF | 14.633 | |
18 | Martina Maggio | Italy | 3rd Italian Serie A | 14.600 |
Qiu Qiyuan* | China | Chinese Championships QF | 14.600 | |
20 | Arina Semukhina | Russia | Russian Championships EF | 14.566 |
Naomi Visser | Netherlands | Baku World Cup QF | 14.566 |
Best Balance Beam Scores
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Qiu Qiyuan* | China | Chinese Championships QF | 14.950 |
2 | Sun Xinyi | China | Chinese Championships QF | 14.850 |
3 | Konnor McClain | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 14.800 |
Vladislava Urazova | Russia | Russian Championships AA | 14.800 | |
Zhou Yaqin | China | Chinese Championships QF | 14.800 | |
6 | Tang Xijing | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 14.766 |
7 | Viktoria Listunova | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 14.700 |
8 | Luo Rui | China | Chinese Championships QF | 14.650 |
9 | Wu Ran | China | Asian Championships EF | 14.633 |
10 | Angelina Melnikova | Russia | Spatakiade QF | 14.600 |
Diana Kustova* | Russia | Russian Championships QF | 14.600 | |
12 | Skye Blakely | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials EF | 14.550 |
13 | Yana Vorona | Russia | Russian Cup EF | 14.533 |
14 | Martina Maggio | Italy | Italian Championships EF | 14.500 |
15 | Maria Minaeva | Russia | Russian Championships AA | 14.466 |
16 | Angela Andreoli | Italy | 1st Italian Serie A | 14.450 |
17 | Flavia Saraiva | Brazil | Pan Am Championships AA | 14.433 |
Rebeca Andrade | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 14.433 | |
19 | Giorgia Villa | Italy | Italian Championships QF | 14.400 |
Ou Yushan | China | Chinese Championships EF | 14.400 |
Best Floor Exercise Scores
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Viktoria Listunova | Russia | Russian Championships EF | 14.633 |
2 | Jessica Gadirova | Great Britain | British Championships EF | 14.600 |
3 | Angelina Melnikova | Russia | Russian Cup EF | 14.433 |
4 | Maria Minaeva | Russia | Russian Championships QF | 14.333 |
5 | Jordan Chiles | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 14.250 |
Shilese Jones | United States | U.S. Championships D2 | 14.250 | |
7 | Martina Maggio | Italy | Italian Championships AA | 14.200 |
8 | Flavia Saraiva | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 14.133 |
9 | Lyudmila Roshchina* | Russia | Russian Championships QF | 14.066 |
10 | Jade Carey | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 14.050 |
11 | Rebeca Andrade | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 14.000 |
12 | Julia Soares | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 13.967 |
13 | Jennifer Gadirova | Great Britain | British Championships EF | 13.950 |
14 | Konnor McClain | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 13.900 |
15 | Angela Andreoli | Italy | European Championships EF | 13.866 |
Wu Ran | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 13.866 | |
17 | eMjae Frazier | United States | City of Jesolo Trophy EF | 13.850 |
Kayla DiCello | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 13.850 | |
Skye Blakely | United States | U.S. Championships D2 | 13.850 | |
20 | Yamaguchi Sora | Japan | All-Japan Event Championships EF | 13.833 |
Best All-Around Difficulty Combination
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Angelina Melnikova | Russia | Spartakiade AA | 22.9 |
2 | Konnor McClain | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 22.8 |
Jade Carey | United States | U.S. Championships D2 | 22.8 | |
4 | Viktoria Listunova | Russia | Spartakiade EF | 22.7 |
5 | Zsofia Kovacs | Hungary | Hungarian Championships EF | 22.7 |
6 | Shilese Jones | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 22.5 |
7 | He Licheng | China | Chinese Championships AA | 22.4 |
Skye Blakely | United States | U.S. Pan Ams Trials AA | 22.4 | |
Zhang Jin | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 22.4 | |
10 | Joscelyn Roberson | United States | U.S. National Team Camp | 22.2 |
11 | Angela Andreoli | Italy | DTB Pokal Team Challenge | 22.1 |
Flavia Saraiva | Brazil | Brazilian Championships QF | 22.1 | |
Jordan Chiles | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 22.1 | |
Ondine Achampong | Great Britain | Commonwealth Games QF | 22.1 | |
15 | Wu Ran | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 22.0 |
Asia D’Amato | Italy | European Championships TF | 22.0 | |
Jessica Gadirova | Great Britain | British Championships AA | 22.0 | |
Maria Minaeva | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 22.0 | |
19 | Alice Kinsella | Great Britain | European Championships AA | 21.9 |
Tang Xijing | China | Chinese Championships AA | 21.9 | |
Carolann Heduit | France | French Championships QF | 21.9 | |
Katelyn Jong | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 21.9 | |
Vladislava Urazova | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 21.9 | |
24 | Rebeca Andrade | Brazil | Brazilian Championships AA | 21.8 |
25 | eMjae Frazier | United States | City of Jesolo Trophy AA | 21.7 |
Georgia Godwin | Australia | Commonwealth Games AA | 21.7 | |
Leanne Wong | United States | U.S. Classic | 21.7 | |
Martina Maggio | Italy | European Championships AA | 21.7 | |
29 | Kayla DiCello | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 21.6 |
30 | Fukasawa Kokoro | Japan | NHK Trophy | 21.5 |
Aline Friess | France | French Championships AA | 21.5 | |
Amelia Disidore | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 21.5 | |
Ana Barbosu | Romania | Romanian Championships AA | 21.5 | |
Yamada Chiharu | Japan | All-Japan Championships AA | 21.5 | |
Elena Colas* | France | Top 12 Finals | 21.5 | |
Luo Rui | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 21.5 | |
Miyata Shoko | Japan | All-Japan Championships QF | 21.5 | |
Matsuda Touwa | Japan | All-Japan Championships AA | 21.5 | |
39 | Ashlee Sullivan | United States | U.S. National Team Camp | 21.4 |
Alice D’Amato | Italy | Italian Championships AA | 21.4 | |
Hezly Rivera* | United States | U.S. Classic | 21.4 | |
Ou Yushan | China | Chinese Championships AA | 21.4 | |
Zoe Miller | United States | U.S. National Team Camp | 21.4 | |
44 | Wei Xiaoyuan | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 21.3 |
Yeo Seojeong | South Korea | Asian Championships AA | 21.3 | |
46 | Lisa Vaelen | Belgium | European Championships TF | 21.2 |
Serita Mikako | Japan | All-Japan Championships QF | 21.2 | |
Qiu Qiyuan* | China | Chinese Championships AA | 21.2 | |
Tiana Sumanasekera* | United States | U.S. Championships D2 | 21.2 | |
Yue Yue | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 21.2 |
Best Two-Vault Difficulty Combination
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Saito Kanako | Japan | All-Japan Event Championships EF | 10.6 |
Qi Qi | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 10.6 | |
Jade Carey | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 10.6 | |
4 | Yeo Seojeong | South Korea | Asian Championships EF | 10.4 |
5 | Joscelyn Roberson | United States | U.S. Classic | 10.2 |
6 | Ahtziri Sandoval | Mexico | Mexican Championships | 9.8 |
Aline Friess | France | European Championships EF | 9.8 | |
Angelina Melnikova | Russia | Spartakiade EF | 9.8 | |
Asia D’Amato | Italy | European Championships EF | 9.8 | |
Franchesca Santi | Chile | Osijek Challenge Cup QF | 9.8 | |
Jessica Gadirova | Great Britain | European Championships AA | 9.8 | |
Jordan Chiles | United States | Paris Challenge Cup EF | 9.8 | |
Ushioku Koba | Japan | All-Japan Event Championships EF | 9.8 | |
Leanne Wong | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 9.8 | |
Lisa Vaelen | Belgium | Paris Challenge Cup EF | 9.8 | |
Shallon Olsen | Canada | Canadian Championships QF | 9.8 | |
17 | He Licheng | China | Chinese Championships QF | 9.6 |
Coline Devillard | France | Paris Challenge Cup EF | 9.6 | |
Pranati Nayak | India | Asian Championships EF | 9.6 | |
Teja Belak | Slovenia | Mersin Challenge Cup EF | 9.6 | |
Zsofia Kovacs | Hungary | European Championships EF | 9.6 |
Best Uneven Bars Difficulty
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Wei Xiaoyuan | China | Chinese Championships EF | 6.6 |
2 | Sanna Veerman | Netherlands | DTB Pokal Team Challenge AA | 6.5 |
Zoe Miller | United States | Pan Am Championships TF | 6.5 | |
4 | Luo Rui | China | Chinese Championships EF | 6.4 |
Diana Kustova* | Russia | Spartakiade EF | 6.4 | |
Maria Minaeva | Russia | Russian Championships AA | 6.4 | |
Qiu Qiyuan* | China | Chinese Championships EF | 6.4 | |
Viktoria Listunova | Russia | Spartakiade EF | 6.4 | |
Zsofia Kovacs | Hungary | Hungarian Championships EF | 6.4 | |
10 | Alice D’Amato | Italy | 1st Italian Serie A | 6.3 |
Angelina Melnikova | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 6.3 | |
Becky Downie | Great Britain | English Championships | 6.3 | |
Lee Yunseo | South Korea | Asian Championships EF | 6.3 | |
Shilese Jones | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials EF | 6.3 | |
Uliana Perebinosova | Russia | Russian Championships EF | 6.3 | |
Yue Yue | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 6.3 | |
17 | Arina Semukhina | Russia | Russian Championships EF | 6.2 |
Ekaterina Andreeva* | Russia | Spartakiade EF | 6.2 | |
Elisa Iorio | Italy | DTB Pokal Mixed Cup | 6.2 | |
Filipa Martins | Portugal | Mediterranean Games EF | 6.2 | |
Kelly Simm | Great Britain | British Championships AA | 6.2 | |
Fukasawa Kokoro | Japan | All-Japan Event Championships EF | 6.2 | |
Lorette Charpy | France | European Championships EF | 6.2 | |
Serita Mikako | Japan | All-Japan Event Championships EF | 6.2 | |
Naomi Visser | Netherlands | Dutch Championships EF | 6.2 | |
Rebeca Andrade | Brazil | Paris Challenge Cup QF | 6.2 | |
Zhu Yunqiong | China | Chinese Championships EF | 6.2 |
Best Balance Beam Difficulty
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Sun Xinyi | China | Chinese Championships QF | 6.6 |
Wu Ran | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 6.6 | |
3 | Angela Andreoli | Italy | 1st Italian Serie A | 6.5 |
Qiu Qiyuan* | China | Chinese Championships EF | 6.5 | |
5 | Joscelyn Roberson | United States | March National Team Camp | 6.4 |
Konnor McClain | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 6.4 | |
Tang Xijing | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 6.4 | |
8 | Ou Yushan | China | Chinese Championships EF | 6.3 |
Skye Blakely | United States | U.S. Championships D1 | 6.3 | |
Wang Xiaodi | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 6.3 | |
Zeng Qinxin* | China | Chinese Championships QF | 6.3 | |
Zhang Jin | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 6.3 | |
Zhou Yaqin | China | Chinese Championships QF | 6.3 | |
14 | Flavia Saraiva | Brazil | Brazil Trophy EF | 6.2 |
Wang Hao* | China | Chinese Championships AA | 6.2 | |
16 | Georgia Godwin | Australia | Commonwealth Games AA | 6.1 |
Luo Rui | China | Chinese Championships QF | 6.1 | |
18 | Ava Stewart | Canada | Pan Am Championships AA | 6.0 |
Diana Kustova* | Russia | Spartakiade EF | 6.0 | |
Jessica Gadirova | Great Britain | British Championships AA | 6.0 | |
Qin Xinyi* | China | Chinese Championships QF | 6.0 | |
Ruby Pass* | Australia | Australian Classic AA | 6.0 | |
Tian Zhuofan* | China | Chinese Championships AA | 6.0 | |
Tiana Sumanasekera* | United States | U.S. National Team Camp | 6.0 | |
Viktoria Listunova | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 6.0 | |
Wang Jiahui | China | Chinese Championships QF | 6.0 | |
Yana Vorona | Russia | Russian Championships EF | 6.0 | |
Yue Yue | China | Chinese Championships QF | 6.0 | |
Zhang Qingying* | China | Chinese Championships AA | 6.0 | |
Zhang Xinyi* | China | Chinese Championships AA | 6.0 |
Best Floor Exercise Difficulty
Rank | Athlete | Nation | Meet | Score |
1 | Jade Carey | United States | U.S. Championships AA | 5.9 |
Miyakawa Sae | Japan | NHK Trophy | 5.9 | |
Angelina Melnikova | Russia | Spartakiade EF | 5.9 | |
4 | Angela Andreoli | Italy | European Championships EF | 5.8 |
eMjae Frazier | United States | City of Jesolo Trophy EF | 5.8 | |
Flavia Saraiva | Brazil | Paris Challenge Cup EF | 5.8 | |
Jessica Gadirova | Great Britain | British Championships EF | 5.8 | |
Jordan Chiles | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 5.8 | |
Karis German | United States | Winter Cup | 5.8 | |
Konnor McClain | United States | U.S. Championships D2 | 5.8 | |
Wu Ran | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 5.8 | |
12 | Joscelyn Roberson | United States | March National Team Camp | 5.7 |
Amelia Disidore | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 5.7 | |
Katelyn Jong | United States | DTB Pokal Mixed Cup | 5.7 | |
Leanne Wong | United States | U.S. Classic | 5.7 | |
Manila Esposito | Italy | Italian Championships AA | 5.7 | |
Maria Minaeva | Russia | Spartakiade QF | 5.7 | |
Martina Maggio | Italy | Italian Championships AA | 5.7 | |
Shilese Jones | United States | U.S. Worlds Trials AA | 5.7 | |
Miyata Shoko | Japan | Asian Championships EF | 5.7 | |
Skye Blakely | United States | Pan Am Championships TF | 5.7 | |
Viktoria Listunova | Russia | Spartakiade AA | 5.7 | |
Zhang Jin | China | Chinese Selection Meet | 5.7 |
It fascinates me that for most of these lists, you have to get all the way to 10th-15th to find an athlete whose top score isn’t from a domestic meet. If I had the time, I’d analyse what % of the top scores are domestic vs international, because it looks like for athletes from the “top” teams contending for a world’s team medal right now (USA, GB, Italy, China, Brazil) their domestic scores are inflated to the point of being totally unreliable. Meanwhile, for nations like Germany, Korea and the Netherlands, who are definitely amongst the best teams in the world but not necessarily a team medal threat, their athletes get a handful of appearances on this list and they’re almost all international.
I’m really curious about what prompts programmes to overscore domestic meets, whether it’s a patriotic sense of “we’re number 1”, using high scores to attract views from the public and increase the profile of the sport, or a means of boosting the athletes’ confidence going into international meet season (which would be a strange choice for team GB especially because their nationals are in March, I think, so well before any international competitions?). It feels to me like it’s doing a disservice to the athletes – it’s how we get Skinner saying that the entire team USA and herself especially were underscored on floor at the Olympics (I’m fairly certain she used a more offensive term than that, though) and it must be such a confidence knock to arrive at an international meet, hit your routine super well, and still feel like you’ve underperformed in quals because your scores are lower than what you’ve gotten used to.
I don’t know if anyone else reading this has any insights because it’s a thing I’ve genuinely found really interesting in terms of how and why this happens and the impact it has on the athletes – would love to hear other peoples’ opinions on this!
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