ISO the perfect 10

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Like most people around the world, I am so happy the Olympics are on. I generally have a hangover after they are done almost as bad as the end of college football season. As a former gymnast I am enamored with the men's gymnastics competition, as well as, all gymnastics, but I am having a competition malfunction.

I have an degree in accounting, got straight A's in math and I still can't figure out this scoring system they have adopted to make things "easier" and "fairer".

Gymnastics: U.S. women bounce back!

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After losing a tough battle to the Chinese women gymnastic team, two members of team U.S.A bounced back to claim victory in individual competition.

Gymnastics: Too young to compete? - Video

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Adding fuel to an already burning fire, the Associated Press is reporting the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported nine months before the start of the Olympics that He Kexin (pictured), who was on the gold medal winning Chinese team, was 13, which would make her ineligible to compete. 

When the report was found Thursday morning on the Xinhua website, a copy of the page was made, but that page is no longer accessible and editors at the agency wouldn't comment on the article.   

NBC's Richard Engel talks to E.M. Swift of Sports Illustrated after the jump about this growing controversy.

Gymnastics: France's Benoit Caranobe is having fun and earns a medal

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It seems French gymnast Benoit Caranobe was enjoying himself so much in the all-around competition on Thursday that it wasn't until the whole thing ended did he realize he had won the bronze medal.  While focusing on the favorites, like China's Yang Wei, Germany's Fabian Hambuechen, and South Korea's Yang Tae-Young, the media also seemed to miss Caranobe's surprise landing on the medal platform. 

"I was not taking any notice of my scores or anyone else's scores, I only realized at the end that I had won a medal," he said after the medal ceremony. 

Photos from the all-around competition after the jump!

Olympics:Team China out stretches Team USA for gold

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In probably the most competitive and watched of any of the women events in this Olympics, a gymnastics battle between China and USA proved to be more entertaining than one would of thought.

Gymnastics: Great night for China, U.S. teams

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The US men accomplished a bronze medal in men's gymnastics with 2 alternates and no returning Olympians.  The Chinese men, held their breath for the first half of the competition then went into high gear and demolished the field.  It, as in any sport, would have been considered a rout.  The difference between the Chinese and the second place Japanese was enormous, both in quality and in spirit.  It was a great night for China and the U.S. men's gymnastics teams.

Gymnastics: Cathy Rigby, heart of a champion

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It was on a night just like tonight that I first saw Cathy Rigby compete in the 1968 Mexico City Games. I was six-years old, and I was captivated. She flew through the air, landed on her feet with such strength, used her arms and hands like a ballerina. And that smile. She was a born performer. By 1972, she had won twelve medals in international competitions, eight of them gold.

And, in 1968, in Mexico City, on a night just like tonight, Cathy Rigby did not win a medal.

She won our hearts.

Olympics: Morgan Hamm withdraws from Olympics!

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Just like his brother Paul, Morgan Hamm has withdrawn from the Olympics due to injury.  Dealing with an injured ankle that hasn't fully healed, Hamm believes it's in the best interests of the US team to bow out.

"I have been dealing with this for the last year, and it recently has gotten worse here in Beijing," said Hamm, a two-time Olympian.  "Right now I am unable to perform my tumbling skills at the level that I need to.  This has an impact on my ability to contribute to the team's goals and I believe by continuing I would be putting myself at further risk.  There are two very capable athletes who can step in and help this team more than I can right now."

As of now, Alexander Artemev is expected to replace Morgan Hamm pending approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee. 

Olympics: Getting ready without Paul Hamm

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With his brother Paul dropping out due to injury Morgan Hamm is not thrust into the spotlight.  He fielded the following questions at a press conference yesterday. 

Is there any awkwardness being here without your brother Paul?
"It's a little bit awkward. After my injury with my chest, I didn't know if I could get back in time. I ended up making the Olympic team and that's great. Paul got hurt just after the U.S. Championships and he didn't have time to come back. I would love to have him here, but I'm really excited about this team."

Has the team's expectations changed not having your brother here?
"The expectations haven't changed. Our goal is to get on the medal podium. We have great replacements."

Are you comfortable being the face of the team?
"I don't feel as if I'm the face of this team. Everyone here brings something different. We have some great skills and some great competitors. We can compete with any country out there."

Source: Team USA.org

Gymnastics: Olympic Preview

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If you're one of those people who only watches gymnastics at the Olympics, there are a few changes. The eye candy is still there in full force from all over the world but no longer do we see one score for each athlete based on a perfect 10 (Unless, of course, you're scoring at home based on your own criteria).  Scoring is now done by two panels. One two-person panel determines  a difficulty score which usually ranges from somewhere between 4 and 7 points.  A 6-person execution panel rates the gymnasts on execution, artistry,  composition and technique (there is, alas, no swimsuit competition here) with 10 being the highest score possible and deductions taken off for mistakes.  Small errors are deducted at as little 0.1 points. Falls go for 0.8 points.