# data[].attributes.body
3Axel1996. “Midori Ito 伊藤 みどり (JPN) - 1989 World Figure Skating Championships, Ladies’ Free Skate.” YouTube, YouTube, 19 May 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOsXxr3jakM.

“Floor Exercise Skills.” Gymnastics Wiki, Fandom, Inc., wagymnastics.fandom.com/wiki/Floor_Exercise_Skills#A-value. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.

gymnasticshq. “Gymnastics Jumps Skill Values.” Gymnastics HQ, 3 June 2022, gymnasticshq.com/gymnastics-jumps-skill-values/.

gymnasticshq. “Turns in Gymnastics: A Guide to Types, Skill Values and More.” Gymnastics HQ, 22 July 2022, gymnasticshq.com/turns-in-gymnastics-a-guide-to-types-skill-values-and-more/.

kata524. “Olympic Champions - Moscow 1980 All-around - Elena Davydova.” YouTube, YouTube, 27 Sept. 2008, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROuEx2NP2cs.

NBC Sports. “15-Year-Old Kamila Valieva Sets Two World Records in Stunning Free Skate | NBC Sports.” YouTube, YouTube, 28 Nov. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCgWCChypBg.

“Olympic Lookback: The Games’ Highest-Scoring Gymnastics Routines on Every Apparatus.” Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=386568. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.

Olympics. “Shizuka Arakawa’s Mesmerizing Free Program to ‘turandot’ | Music Monday.” YouTube, YouTube, 14 Dec. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_-qbfreDH4.

Olympics. “Simone Biles Earns Another Gold with This Stunning Routine! | Music Monday.” YouTube, YouTube, 5 Apr. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1WjaNoPBhw.

Olympics. “Yuna Kim - Free Skate - Ladies’ Figure Skating | Vancouver 2010.” YouTube, YouTube, 25 Feb. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoMkWIA2jVY.

“Spin Levels.” Spinlevels, www.skatingaheadofthecurve.com/SpinLevels.html. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.

U.S. Figure Skating. “The 2023-24 Official U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook.” UNDERSTANDING THE INTERNATIONAL JUDGING SYSTEM, usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/Scoring%20Cheat%20Sheet.pdf. Accessed 16 Dec. 2023.

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1. Round-off + Salto backward straight with 2 twist (D)

2. Straddle jump with full turn (C) + Stag split jump (A)

3. Round-off + Back Handspring + Double layout half-out, i.e. Biles (G) + Split jump (A)

4. Salto forward straight with step-out (B)

5. Walf turn (2 rotations - D)

6. Switch split leap (B) + Switch split leap with 1½ turn (D)

7. Round-off + Back Handspring + Double salto backward tucked with double twist (H)

8. Straddle jump with full turn (C)

9. Round-off + Back Handspring + Double salto backward tucked with double twist (H)

10. Round-off + handstand twist (A)

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Skills are rated as A through E based on their difficulty. This determines the difficulty score in the new scoring system.

"A": easiest skill

"E": hardest skill

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The scoring system before 2006. The routine's difficulty determined its starting point (maximum of 10). Each mistake caused a deduction from the starting point.

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The new scoring system was adopted after 2006. Gymnasts now receive a combination of difficulty and execution scores. The difficulty score has no maximum limit.

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The floor routine received a perfect 10 by Yelena Davydova in the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

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Olympic Champions - Moscow 1980 All-Around - Elena Davydova

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1. Round-off + Front tuck (2 rotations - D) + Forward roll (A)

2. Turn with leg extended (1 rotation - B) + Turn on one leg (1 rotation - B)

3. Front walkover turning into back walkover (A)

4. Round-off + Back Handspring + Salto backward straight (2½ twist - D) + Front tuck (1 rotation - B)

5. Split leap (A) + Split leap (A) + Dive roll/Hecht roll (A)

6. Straight jump (2 rotations - B)

7. Cartwheel (A) + Turn with leg extended (1 rotation - B)

8. Round-off + Back Handspring + Salto backward straight (2 twists - C)

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Jumps: https://gymnasticshq.com/gymnastics-jumps-skill-values/

Turns: https://gymnasticshq.com/turns-in-gymnastics-a-guide-to-types-skill-values-and-more/

Floor skills: https://wagymnastics.fandom.com/wiki/Floor_Exercise_Skills#A-value

https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=386568

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The routine that set the World record for female gymnastics floor exercise by Simone Biles in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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Simone Biles earns ANOTHER gold with this stunning routine! | Music Monday

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8 connected skills

3 tumblings (series of acrobatic skills done across the mat's diagonal line)

Numbers of skills per level:

A: 6

B: 5

C: 1

D: 2

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10 connected skills

4 tumblings (series of acrobatic skills done across the mat's diagonal line)

Numbers of skills per level:

A: 3

B: 2

C: 2

D: 3

G: 1

H: 2

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Skills are rated by Scale of Values (SOV) based on their difficulty. This becomes the technique's base value in the new scoring system.

Low SOV: less difficult moves

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The scoring system before 2004. 9 Judges scored the routine's technical merit and presentation on a scale from 0.0 to 6.0. Scores are determined based on how well the skater performed compared with other skaters in the competition.

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The new scoring system was adopted after 2004. Skaters accumulate difficulty and execution points for each technical element. Additional program component scores are awarded to the routines' composition, skaters' presentation, and skating skills.

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The flawless free skate that received five 6.0s and four 5.9s by Midori Ito at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1989. Midori became the first woman to perform a triple axel in an international competition.

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Midori Ito 伊藤 みどり (JPN) - 1989 World Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Free Skate

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IJS scoring: https://usfigureskating.org/sites/default/files/media-files/Scoring%20Cheat%20Sheet.pdf

Spin levers: https://www.skatingaheadofthecurve.com/SpinLevels.html

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1. Triple Lutz (5.9)

2. Triple Axel (8.0)

3. Triple Flip (5.3)

4. Double Toe Loop (1.3)

5. Combo Spin w/ Change of Foot (level 4 - 3.5)

6. Triple Loop (4.9)

7. Combo Spin w/ no Change of Foot (level 2 - 2.0)

8. Camel Spin (level 1 - 1.0)

9. Triple Toe Loop (4.2) + Triple Toe Loop (4.2)

10. Sit Spin w/ Flying Entry (level 1 - 2.0)

11. Triple Salchow (4.3)

12. Double Axel (3.3)

13. Upright Spin (level 0 - 1.0)

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10 Jumps and 4 Spins

Total SOV: 46.7

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The free skate that set the world record for women's single free skate score by Kamila Valieva at the Rostelecom Cup in 2021.

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15-year-old Kamila Valieva sets TWO world records in stunning free skate | NBC Sports

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1. Quad Salchow (9.7)

2. Triple Axel (8.0)

3. Quad Toe Loop (9.5) + Triple Toe Loop (4.2)

4. Triple Loop (4.9)

5. Camel Spin w/ Flying Entry (level 4 - 3.2)

6. Quad Toe Loop (9.5) + Single Euler + Double Salchow (1.3)

7. Triple Flip (5.3) + Triple Toe Loop (4.2)

8. Triple Lutz (5.9)

9. Combo Spin w/ Change of Foot (level 4 - 3.5)

10. Combo Spin w/ Change of Foot (level 4 - 3.5)

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10 Jumps and 3 Spins

Total SOV: 72.7

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The free skate that won the 2006 Torino Olympics, performed by Shizuka Arakawa. This was the first Olympics to adopt the IJS scoring system.

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Shizuka Arakawa's Mesmerizing Free Program to 'Turandot' | Music Monday

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1. Triple Lutz (5.9) + Double Loop (1.7)

2. Triple Salchow (4.3) + Double Toe Loop (1.3)

3. Triple Lutz (5.9)

4. Camel Spin w/ Flying Entry (level 4 - 3.2)

5. Double Axel (3.3)

6. Triple Lutz (5.9)

7. Double Loop (1.7)

8. Camel Spin (level 2 - 1.8)

9. Triple Salchow (4.3) + Single Toe Loop + Single Salchow (>1.0)

10. Combo Spin w/ Change of Foot (level 4 - 3.5)

11. Combo Spin w/ Change of Foot (level 4 - 3.5)

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11 Jumps and 4 Spins

Total SOV: 47.3

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The free skate that won the 2010 Vancouver Olympics by Yuna Kim.

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Yuna Kim - Free Skate - Ladies' Figure Skating | Vancouver 2010

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1. Triple Lutz (5.9) + Triple Toe Loop (4.2)

2. Triple Flip (5.3)

3. Double Axel (3.3) + Double Toe Loop (1.3) + Double Salchow (1.3)

4. Combo Spin w/ no Change of Foot (level 4 - 3.0)

5. Double Axel (3.3) + Triple Toe Loop (4.2)

6. Triple Salchow (4.3)

7. Triple Lutz (5.9)

8. Double Axel (3.3)

9. Combo Spin w/ Change of Foot (3.5)

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11 Jumps and 2 Spins

Total SOV: 48.8

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I compared the top-scored women's floor exercises in gymnastics and free skate programs. The difficulty level of gymnastics moves, and the difficulty score of figure skating techniques are determined based on the new scoring systems, as the old system did not have concrete difficulty ratings. The skill set summaries show that the performance difficulty level increased substantially in both competitions. Compared to Yelena Davydova's routine, which received the maximum score under the old scoring system, Simone Biles' record-setting routine included a move that was four levels more difficult than Davydova's most challenging move. In figure skating, Midori Ito received the highest score under the previous scoring system, in which her hardest skill was one jump with 3.5 rotations. Under the new scoring system, Kamila Valieva set the world record by completing three jumps with 4 rotations. It is evident that female gymnasts and figure skaters are performing more and harder techniques during competitions.

This change might be a result of the improvement of the athlete's skills over time, but the change in the scoring system is highly likely to contribute to this. As we can see, in the two Olympics following figure skating's scoring change, there was a noticeable increase in the number of jumps done and the total difficulty score. Athletes have yet to master new skills, such as quad jumps, by this time, but their routines have become more difficult. Therefore, the change in the scoring systems potentially increases the difficulty of gymnastics and figure skating routines.