(video from Alabama’s Youtube channel: BamaGymnastics)
In no. 2 Alabama’s meet against no. 4 Florida on February 3, the Crimson Tide’s Diandra Milliner scored a perfect 10 on her yurchenko one and a half vault. The Crimson Tide went on to beat the Gators 197.725-196.900.
This vault surely is good, and that is surely a stuck landing. However, you can tell that her extension is not fully there, and her knees are slightly bent throughout the vault. This is somewhat nitpicky, but I believe perfect 10 should only be doled out when the routine is undeniably perfect. Take Vanessa Zamarripa of UCLA. Her vaults that have scored perfect 10’s, in my opinion, ARE perfect. She soars above the vault, has perfect form, remains completely extended throughout her vault, and undoubtedly sticks the landing. Watch one of her perfect 10 vaults here:
(Taken from UCLA’s Youtube channel: UCLA)
She has time to open up and “float” to her landing. Now it is true that Milliner’s vault is more difficult, as she adds another half to the twist, so some argue that because that vault is more difficult, if it is performed better than a yurchenko full, for example, it should score higher, many times a 10.
Gymnasts, what is your opinion on perfect 10’s? And non-gymnasts, can you tell a difference between the vaults? Let me know in the comments!
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