In elite gymnastics, the difficulty score, or D-score tells us how hard a routine really is. Unlike the execution score, which judges form and artistry, the D-score measures the raw content.
It’s calculated from:
- The 8 highest-valued elements in WAG (Women’s Artistic Gymnastics) or 10 in MAG (Men’s Artistic Gymnastics)
- Connection bonuses for linking skills in risky ways
- Completion of required elements, which vary by apparatus
Each skill is assigned a letter value:
- A = 0.1, B = 0.2 … J = 1.0 (and new skills beyond J can be added if successfully performed in competition)
By combining skills, gymnasts can earn extra tenths—typically 0.1 to 0.2, sometimes up to 0.3. Most importantly, the D-score is open-ended: there is no fixed maximum. But chasing sky-high numbers often hurts execution and raises injury risk, so top gymnasts aim for the sweet spot between difficulty and control.
Highest Confirmed D-Scores in WAG (Women’s Artistic Gymnastics)
Women’s gymnastics has seen D-scores steadily climb, especially on bars and floor, where creative connections can rack up tenths. Vault, by contrast, is capped lower for safety.
| Apparatus | Top D-Score | Gymnast & Meet (Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Vault | 6.4 | Simone Biles – Yurchenko double pike (“Biles II”), 2025 Code |
| Uneven Bars | 7.0 | Kaylia Nemour – Doha World Cup 2024 |
| Balance Beam | 6.7 | Simone Biles – U.S. Championships Day 2 (2019) |
| Floor | 6.9 | Simone Biles – planned routine, 2023 U.S. Classic |
–Why Uneven Bars Lead the Pack
Bars benefit from connection value. Release-to-release links can earn up to 0.4, and gymnasts like Kaylia Nemour pack their sets with eight E-to-G-level elements linked efficiently. That’s how routines now push beyond 7.0—something nearly impossible on beam or floor.
This level of difficulty demands not only strength but also precise swing mechanics and grip endurance.
Highest Confirmed D-Scores in MAG (Men’s Artistic Gymnastics)
Men’s gymnastics often shows higher D-scores than women’s because more skills count (10 vs. 8), artistry is not required, and strength-based events like rings or pommel horse allow athletes to stack compact high-value elements.
| Apparatus | Top D-Score | Gymnast & Meet (Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Floor | 7.6 | Kenzo Shirai – 2016–17 World Cup & Japanese Nationals |
| Pommel Horse | 6.9 | Max Whitlock – multiple Worlds & European titles |
| Still Rings | ~6.5 | Eleftherios Petrounias – peak sets (2020–24 Olympic cycle) |
| Vault | 6.0 | Top vaults in the 2025–2028 Code (Ri Se-gwang / Yang Hak-Seon family) |
| Parallel Bars | 7.0 | Ferhat Arıcan – 2023 World Championships Qualification |
| Horizontal Bar | ~6.5 | Highest sets feature the “Miyachi” (I-rated, 0.9) release |
–Why Floor Leads the Way
On MAG floor, it’s pure acrobatics, no leaps or choreography. That’s why twisting specialists like Kenzo Shirai could build sets filled with quadruple twists, triple-twist doubles, and connection bonuses worth 0.7+. His 7.6 D-score remains the highest ever confirmed in men’s gymnastics.
Other events plateau lower: rings and parallel bars usually top out in the low 7s, and pommel horse sequences max around 6.9.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here’s a quick chart to see where men’s and women’s gymnastics stand in the 2025–2028 cycle:
WAG vs. MAG Highest Confirmed D-Scores (2025–2028 Cycle)
| Apparatus | WAG (Women’s Artistic Gymnastics) | MAG (Men’s Artistic Gymnastics) |
|---|---|---|
| Vault | 6.4 – Simone Biles (Yurchenko double pike “Biles II”) | 6.0 – Ri Se-gwang family vaults (2025–2028 Code max) |
| Uneven Bars / Parallel Bars | 7.0 – Kaylia Nemour (Doha World Cup 2024) | 6.8–6.9 – Ferhat Arıcan (2023 Worlds) |
| Balance Beam / Pommel Horse | 6.7 – Simone Biles (2019 U.S. Championships) | 6.9 – Max Whitlock (2023–24 Worlds & Euros) |
| Floor Exercise | 6.9 – Simone Biles (2023 U.S. Classic, planned) | 7.6 – Kenzo Shirai (2016–17 peak competitions) |
| Still Rings | — (not in WAG) | ~6.5 – Eleftherios Petrounias (peak routines) |
| Horizontal Bar | — (not in WAG) | ~6.5–6.7 – Epke Zonderland / Daiki Hashimoto at peak |
Quick Takeaways
- WAG ceiling: Bars currently lead with Kaylia Nemour’s 7.0.
- MAG ceiling: Floor holds the record with Kenzo Shirai’s 7.6.
- Vault capped lower: Both men and women max out around 6.0–6.4.
- MAG generally higher: More elements (10 vs. 8), no dance requirements, and strength events drive higher numbers.
Why Vault Is Capped Lower
Vault is different from other apparatus. Instead of building difficulty piece by piece, each vault has a fixed value in the FIG Vault Table.
- Women’s highest vaults:
- Yurchenko double pike (Biles II) → 6.4
- Handspring double front (Produnova) → 6.0
- Men’s highest vaults (2025 Code):
- Ri Se-gwang family vaults (full-twisting double Tsukahara) → 6.0
- Historic peak: Yang Hak-Seon’s vault, 7.4 under the 2009–2012 Code
The reason vault stays lower? Safety. Landings are brutally fast and unforgiving. FIG deliberately keeps values conservative to prevent gymnasts from risking catastrophic injuries for a few extra tenths.
Could We See 7.0+ in WAG or 8.0 in MAG?
- WAG: It’s possible a floor or beam routine could hit 7.0+ in the 2025–2028 Code if a gymnast layers upgrades with perfect construction. Bars have already crossed that line.
- MAG: On paper, an 8.0 on floor is possible if someone manages a quintuple twist plus multiple high-valued double-saltos. In practice, the pounding on the body makes this nearly impossible right now.
For now, the pursuit of difficulty continues, but execution, artistry, and safety, remain just as important as the numbers on paper.
Sources for WAG & MAG D-Scores
- FIG – International Gymnastics Federation (official Code & results)
- NBC Olympics – Gymnastics scoring explained
- Popsugar Fitness – Highest difficulty scores in gymnastics
- Reddit – Discussion on highest D-scores (fan analysis)
