The formula for the team competition changed radically in 2004.
From 1956 to 1988, the team score
was the sum of the best five individual combined scores (out of six gymnasts). This forced the
nations to select all-round athletes.
In 1992, the team score was made up of, per apparatus, the five best scores. This allowed a team
to also select one specialist for each apparatus (his scores on the other events no longer needed
to drag down the team). In 1996, this became six scores from seven gymnasts, and in 2000, each
nation had to select five of its six gymnasts on every apparatus, with the four best scores counting.
Although this allowed nations to select specialists, there was still a good reason to select
all-rounders. So until 2000, I award only HR 1 to the apparatus events.
From 2004 however, each nation needs to select only three gymnasts from six, with all three scores
counting. This puts the emphasis more on specialists, and as a consequence I award HR 4 to
the apparatus' events from 2004 onwards.
The events at Athina : (men)
Women:
Gymnastics :
This page is part of the site "Full Olympians" by Herman De Wael. See here for a full Introduction.