Olivia Dunne Voices Concerns Over Judging Alterations Following LSU Gymnastics' Defeat to Arkansas
Olivia Dunne Voices Concerns Over Judging Alterations Following LSU Gymnastics' Defeat to Arkansas
The fourth week of NCAA Gymnastics proved to be a challenging one for the reigning National Champions, LSU Tigers. After several wobbly performances dragged down their total score, the No. 2 Tigers succumbed to No. 17 Arkansas in a crucial SEC dual meet, with a score of 196.875 to 196.600. The Razorbacks celebrated their biggest upset victory against LSU since 2011, thanks to standout freshman and Olympic alternate, Joscelyn Roberson.
LSU's demise in the meet left them on shaky grounds for attaining the SEC Regular Season title. The Tigers struggled particularly on their signature event, floor, averaging 9.77 – a far cry from their usual 9.93 – which was the best score in the nation last year. Even LSU's social media sensation, Olivia Dunne, who participated in the floor lineup, scored a modest 9.700.
The team's weaker performances may be attributable to the revamped judging evaluation system introduced this season. Headlined by the newly appointed SCORE board, this new system allows coaches to submit specific routines for review. Should an inflammatory score be detected, the responsible judges could face demotions and be barred from postseason assignments.
Some fans and pundits applaud this effort to standardize judging within the sport, while others remain divided. Coaches and athletes express a mixed response, with LSU's Olivia Dunne voicing her thoughts on the stricter scoring on social media platforms.
Dunne, with a substantial following of over 8 million on TikTok, shared her worries about gymnastics' declining appeal and the lack of reward for impressive performances due to an overabundance of deductions based on judges' discretion. “If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewership, you have to focus on what excites the crowds,” she emphasized.
However, Dunne's stance drew criticism from the gymnastics community. Former NCAA champion Morgan Belvedere argued against Dunne's views, contending that "10s are earned, not given." Belvedere emphasized that universities should put more effort into marketing their athletes and sport and discouraged diminishing the sport's integrity for entertainment's sake.
Meanwhile, there's a more optimistic outlook on NCAA Gymnastics. Last Friday, Maryland recorded its new attendance record in a meet against UCLA, with a breathtaking 7,827 fans, surpassing the previous mark of 2,207. Big Ten Champion Michigan State also smashed its attendance record during its clash with Michigan, filling the Breslin Center to capacity.
Furthermore, Arkansas Razorbacks have witnessed a surge in popularity, with the team's moving their competitions to the Bud Walton Arena's staggering seating capacity of almost 19,000. It was evident at Friday's upset victory over LSU, where the Razorbacks broke their own student attendance record.
Remarkably, NCAA Women's Gymnastics viewership has also shown a considerable increase. The 2023 National Championship reached the highest number of viewers – 1.02 million – since 2007, indicating a growing interest in the sport. ESPN announced this as the most extensive gymnastics season in its history, covering over 60 meets with approximately 100 live hours scheduled for national broadcasts.
It's clear that though the tighter scoring may have displeased some, the sport's popularity is soaring, with elite gymnasts and national contenders making the 2025 season particularly exciting. Despite some critics' reservations, establishing a fair and consistent scoring system remains the primary objective of the new judging evaluation system.
Enrichment Data:
The new SCORE Board initiative has sparked discussions within NCAA Gymnastics about fairness, scoring bias, and the reduced number of perfect 10s. Key aspects of the system include:
- Standardization of Scoring:
- The SCORE board aims to ensure scoring consistency across competitions by reviewing judges' assessments for accuracy and penalizing judges with fewer than two point scores.
- Improved Competency and Consistency:
- The eight SCORE board members focus on evaluating single events to guarantee uniformity and consistency in deductions and scoring.
- Feedback and Dispute Process:
- Judges who receive low scores from the SCORE board can challenge the assessment, although this is limited to three challenges per season.
- Decrease in Perfect 10s:
- In the inaugural four weeks of the 2025 competition, only two perfect 10s were awarded, as compared to the significantly higher numbers seen in previous seasons.
As the controversy surrounding the revamped scoring system continues, its ultimate impact on NCAA Gymnastics remains to be seen.
Olivia Dunne, a prominent LSU gymnast and social media sensation, expressed concerns about the new judging system affecting gymnastics' appeal and performance rewards. Livvy Dunne's TikTok following of over 8 million people echoed her sentiments. Despite the stricter scoring, NCAA Women's Gymnastics viewership reached an all-time high of 1.02 million viewers at the 2023 National Championship.