Now that we’ve had a solid day of “Simone Biles is back…IS SHE GOOD?” takes following the announcement that she’ll compete at Classic, here’s a look at her routines from 2021 (I used the ones from nationals) and how they stand up to the adjustments in the 2022-2024 code of points.
| BARS | |
| 2021 US Nationals | 2022-2024 Code |
| Weiler 1/2 + Maloney + Tkatchev D+D+D = 0.3 CV | Weiler 1/2 + Maloney + Tkatchev D+D+D = 0.3 CV |
| Toe 1/1 + Tkatchev pike + Pak D+E+D = 0.3 CV | Toe 1/1 + Tkatchev pike + Pak D+X+D |
| Van leeuwen E | Van leeuwen E |
| Fabrichnova F | Fabrichnova F = 0.2 DB |
| TOTAL | |
| Composition – 2.0 | Composition – 2.0 |
| FEEDDDDD – 3.6 | FEDDDDDB – 3.3 |
| Connection value – 0.6 | Connection value – 0.3 Dismount bonus – 0.2 |
| Total D – 6.2 | Total D – 5.8 |
The major compositional change required in Simone’s routines comes on bars because, if she were to perform her previous routine, she would get zero credit for the piked Tkatchev as the code now prohibits multiple Tkatchev variations without twisting from the same root circle—in this case a giant swing.
Because she is also already counting the maximum number of toe-on skills in this routine, the most straightforward solution would be to change one of the Tkatchev variations to be from a clear-hip, Stalder, or (heaven forbid) inbar circle so that she can get credit for both again.
Changing that first Tkatchev in combination to either a Hindorff or Ricna would add a tenth in skill value, restore the E credit for the Tkatchev piked, and restore 0.2 in connection value for that second piked Tkatchev series (downgraded from 0.3 CV in the previous code), which would bring her up to a 6.4 D score.
Either that or a more drastic reorganization of the bars routine.
| BEAM | |
| 2021 US Nationals | 2022-2024 Code |
| Wolf turn triple E | Wolf turn triple E |
| Aerial + split + straddle D+B+B = 0.1 CV, 0.1 SB | Aerial + Split + Straddle D+B+B = 0.1 CV, 0.1 SB |
| Bhs + layout so + layout so B+C+C = 0.1 CV, 0.1 SB | Bhs + layout so + layout so B+C+C = 0.1 CV, 0.1 SB |
| Switch + switch 1/2 + back pike C+D+C = 0.2 CV, 0.1 SB | Switch + switch 1/2 + back pike C+D+C = 0.2 CV, 0.1 SB |
| Side aerial D | Side aerial D |
| Straddle 1/2 + split 1/2 (side) D+D = 0.2 CV | Straddle 1/2 + split 1/2 (side) X+X |
| Bhs + bhs + double tuck 1/1 B+B+G = 0.2 CV, 0.1 SB | Bhs + bhs + double tuck 1/1 B+B+G = 0.1 SB, 0.2 DB |
| TOTAL | |
| Composition – 2.0 | Composition – 2.0 |
| Acro – GDDC – 1.8 | Acro – GDDCC – 2.1 |
| Dance – EDDD – 1.7 | Dance – EDC – 1.2 |
| Connection value – 0.8 Series bonus 0.4 | Connection value – 0.4 Series bonus – 0.4 Dismount bonus – 0.2 |
| Total D – 6.7 | Total D – 6.3 |
Two code changes affect Biles’ beam routine, though the loss of 0.2 dismount connection value is counterbalanced by the addition of the 0.2 dismount bonus, so that one is a wash.
The only other issue is the change of technique for side jumps on beam, where the previous technique of 1/2 turn—split—1/2 turn no longer gets full credit. Biles could adjust the technique to get those 0.4 back and return to 6.7 for this routine (6.8 if she performs the double double dismount, but it’s not worth enough to be a thing)—or just ditch them, or replace them with other skills. Or whatever.
| FLOOR | |
| 2021 US Nationals | 2022-2024 Code |
| Triple double J | Triple double J |
| DLO 1/2 + stag G+A = 0.1 CV | DLO 1/2 + stag G+A = 0.1 CV |
| Switch 1/1 D | Switch 1/1 D |
| Wolf turn triple E | Wolf turn triple E |
| Front 1/1 + double tuck 1/1 C+E = 0.2 CV | Front 1/1 + double tuck 1/1 C+E = 0.2 CV |
| Switch + split leap 1.5 B+D | Switch + split leap 1.5 B+D |
| Double double tuck H | Double double tuck H = 0.2 DB |
| TOTAL | |
| Composition – 2.0 | Composition – 2.0 |
| Acro – JHGEC – 3.3 | Acro – JHGEC – 3.3 |
| Dance – EDD – 1.3 | Dance – EDD – 1.3 |
| Connection value – 0.3 | Connection value – 0.3 Dismount bonus – 0.2 |
| Total D – 6.9 | Total D – 7.1 |
Floor is where Simone has gained tenths in the new code without changing anything, as her top-difficulty floor routine from 2021 is unchanged in skill value and connection bonus but gets up over the heralded 7.0 difficulty mark with the addition of the dismount bonus.
| VAULT | |
| 2021 US Nationals | 2022-2024 Code |
| Cheng 6.0 | Cheng 5.6 |
| Amanar 5.8 | Amanar 5.4 |
| 2021 US Classic | |
| Yurchenko double pike 6.6 | Yurchenko double pike 6.2 |
On vault, everything is down 4 tenths, so that’s a loss in difficulty but one that everyone else also experiences on every vault.
Not really related, but now that the Weiler 1/1 has been named, what other unnamed bars skills could she realistically compete? I don’t think she’s ever said she cares about getting a named skill on every event, but I just like to dream.
A full twisting Nabs/Liukin in MAG…
I don’t think she’s trained any additional skills that have been unnamed.
My dream skill for her now would be a triple twisting double tuck on bars to match her floor exercise, even though that’s probably a pipe dream. Maybe a Weiler 1.5 so she doesn’t have to do any drastic changes to her bars routine. If I can be a little preposterous, a Wolf Tkatchev. That would be a Tkatchev release but with a single wolf turn in the air before regrasping the bar. She’s good on the wolf turns.
She’s also good on twisting elements, so if she has her aerial awareness back, she can show the world how to do a proper full-twisting (tucked or laid-out) Tkatchev (pike or non-piked). She’s also good on multiple saltos in general, so a Tkatchev release with an additional salto in the air would be interesting, but that’s reaching into men’s high bar (which doesn’t have the low bar getting in the way).
Triple-Double dismount
Does anyone else have total D => 24.5?
Hindorff or Ricna would not give .2 connection bonus to the Pak, she needs a piked version of one of those skills to maximize the score.
He was talking about the entire Toe 1/1 + Hindorff/Ricna + Pak sequence receiving 0.2 CV, not just the Hindorff/Ricna + Pak.
He said adding a Hindorff or Ricna “would bring her up to a 6.4 D score” but that’s not correct, it would only be a 6.3 D score.
Spencer meant changing the first combination to a Weiler 1/2 + Maloney + Ricna/Hindorff.
This combination would add 0.1 by replacing a D skill (regular Tkatchev) with an E skill (clear-hip/Stalder Tkatchev). It would also add 0.3 by replacing a B-skill (Giant) with a now-valid E-skill (Piked Tkatchev). It would also add and additional 0.2 CV from a Toe 1/1 + Piked Tkatchev + Pak combination.
These changes would increase her difficulty score by 0.6 in difficulty (all the way up to 6.4).
However, it is a little too optimistic; I’ve never seen a gymnast connect a Maloney to any Tkatchev release other than the regular Tkatchev from a giant. Perhaps it would be a better to replace the Toe 1/1 to a Stalder 1/1 and the Piked Tkatchev to a Toe-on Tkatchev (Ray). That would still increase her difficulty score by 0.4 tenths. Alternatively, she can change the Piked Tkatchev to a Hindorff/Ricna, which would also increase her difficulty score by 4 tenths.