Understanding the elusive 'perfect 10' in elite gymnastics

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The perfect 10 hasn't disappeared from elite gymnastics, it’s just hidden.  

In 2006, the International Gymnastics Federation changed the scoring system to encourage and reward difficult skills. Now, there are two scores that get added together: execution (E) and difficulty (D).  

The D-score starts at a zero and then goes up as the gymnasts complete requirements, hit difficult skills and connect bonus combinations. The E-score is your perfect ten – it starts there and then judges begin deducting for all types of mistakes, such as steps or hops on landings, form breaks and the worst situation, falls.  

This system rewards difficulty because the D-score is limitless in number – the only barrier the gymnasts have is the time allotted to complete their routines (for example: a balance beam routine must be a minute-and-a-half or less.) Before, with the 10.0 system, that is the highest start value a gymnast could have, so it didn’t make sense to take a risk on more difficult skills than necessary since everyone started at the same spot. This way, gymnasts can have an advantage with more difficulty since that D-score can continue to rise. 

Routines go really fast, so there is also two sets of judges as well: one group that tallies the difficulty and the other tallies the execution. After the routine, the two scores are added together and that is your final score.