When a 10 is flashed by the judges, there’s excitement in the air in the hope that the other will do the same. Simultaneously, gymnastics fans at home are dissecting the routine for deductions to call foul on the perfect mark. Even if only one judge gives the routine a 10, it is still a huge accomplishment—at least it’s supposed to be.
The frequency that judges were giving out 10s in 2022 was near an all-time high. Getting a 10 from even just one judge is special. Achieving a 9.975 is supposed to be something that few manage to do, but with the high score bunching at the top in 2022 compared to years past, 9.975s were being tossed around by judges much more often than not.
From the perspective of the gymnast, they know the hard work they put in as they strive for perfection each week, but having that work recognized in the form of a 10 is a surreal feeling. Amari Celestine recalled the feeling of one judge flashing a 10 on her 2022 floor routine. “When the score comes up, you’re like, ‘OK, I worked so hard for it. It’s noticed.’”
That sentiment was echoed by Natalie Wojcik, who recalled those moments by saying, “Gymnastics is a sport that centers around chasing perfection. To be able to see on the scoreboard, essentially what you’ve worked for…
