When it comes to elite gymnastics, the days of the famed "perfect 10" are long gone. Today, gymnastics is scored [1] using a complex, two-pronged system, with one set of points awarded for the difficulty of a gymnast's skills [2] and another set awarded for how well those skills are executed. It's the difficulty score that gets the most attention, particularly in the era of Simone Biles [3], whose routines are so technical — and her difficulty scores so high — that she could fall and still win.

Exactly what's the highest those difficulty scores can go? According to USA Gymnastics guidelines [4], the difficulty score is calculated using a specific formula. For any given routine, the difficulty score is the sum of:

• The point value of the 10 most difficult skills in the routine, with each skill only being counted once.
• The connection value, earned by successfully executing multiple skills in a row.
• The composition requirements, which allow athletes to earn up to 2.0 points by performing a set of elements that are required on that apparatus.

In women's gymnastics, each skill is categorized into one of 10 classifications, which have increasing point values as they become more difficult. The Code of Points [5] classifications start with Group A skills, worth 0.1 point each, and go up through Group J, which earn 1.0 points each. Vault skills are scored a little differently, with difficulty values currently ranging from 2.0 to 6.4 points. To put Biles's dominance into perspective, depending on the event, she can carry a difficulty score of 6.4 or higher. (Her triple-double on floor is currently the only J-level element, and her vault — the Yurchenko double pike [6] — was given a provisional value of 6.6 at the GK US Classic in 2021. At the World Championships in 2023, the judges gave it a value of 6.4.)

In practice, then, there is no upper limit for the difficulty score, though generally speaking, the difficulty scores (or "D-scores") typically fall between 5 and 6 points for elite gymnasts, like those competing at the Olympics. As an example, because of Biles's higher difficulty score, she was awarded a 14.6 score for her qualifier floor routine while at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. This new scoring system — while at times difficult for viewers to understand — has allowed athletes like Biles to continue pushing the limits of the sport [7], and that is thrilling to watch.

To stream the 2024 Paris Olympics, you can sign up for a Peacock subscription [8] ($8 per month). The platform will stream every event live and will also offer on-demand options for users to rewatch different competitions from the Games. For the full 2024 Paris Olympics schedule, visit NBCOlympics.com [9].

— Additional reporting by Jade Esmeralda

Jade Esmeralda [11], MS, CSCS, is a Staff Writer, Health & Fitness. A life-long martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength & conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Strength and Conditioning from George Washington University.