The vault is one of the most thrilling events in women’s gymnastics, where gymnasts showcase their strength, speed, and precision in a matter of seconds. But what exactly is the highest score ever achieved in this event? To answer that, we need to look at how scores are determined and what it takes to earn a perfect—or near-perfect—vault score.
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The Highest Score in Women’s Vault
As of 2024, the highest recorded score in women’s gymnastics vault is held by Simone Biles, who earned a total score of 15.633 for her performance of the Yurchenko Double Pike at the 2022 World Championships. This groundbreaking vault, with its D-score of 6.4, is the most difficult vault ever performed in women’s gymnastics.
- Event: 2022 World Championships
- Location: Liverpool, England
- Vault Performed: Yurchenko Double Pike
- D-Score: 6.4
- Total Score: 15.633
This vault, with its high D-score of 6.4, is considered one of the most challenging vaults in the sport due to the two flips performed in a pike position, requiring extreme power, speed, and precise body control. When combined with Biles’ flawless execution, it led to the highest-ever vault score for women’s gymnastics.
Biles’ Yurchenko Double Pike has not only been seen in World Championships but also in various domestic competitions. Below are a couple of her major performances:
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials: This was the event where Biles first showcased the Yurchenko Double Pike to the world, sparking a wave of excitement in the gymnastics community.
- 2023 World Championships: Biles continued to perform the vault at the highest level during the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, further solidifying her dominance in women’s gymnastics and the vault.
The Vault Scoring in Women’s Gymnastics
In gymnastics, each event is judged on two main components: the Difficulty (D-score) and the Execution (E-score). These two elements combine to determine the gymnast’s overall performance score.
1. Difficulty Score (D-Score)
The Difficulty Score (D-score) represents the complexity of the vault. It is based on the level of difficulty of the skills performed and is assigned by the judges before the gymnast performs the vault.
–D-score Calculation: The D-score is the sum of the value of each element in the vault (i.e., the type of vault, number of flips, twists, and any variations performed).
–Range: The D-score for vaults in women’s gymnastics can range from 4.0 to 6.4 or even higher, depending on the vault’s complexity.
- Lower D-scores (around 4.0) typically represent simpler vaults, such as a Yurchenko full (1 twist).
- Higher D-scores (6.0 and above) are for more difficult vaults like the Yurchenko Double Pike, Amanar Vault, and Yurchenko Double Twist.
The Yurchenko Double Pike, for example, has a D-score of 6.4, the highest D-score for a women’s vault as of 2024, due to its high level of difficulty, including two flips in the air and a pike position.
2. Execution Score (E-Score)
The Execution Score (E-score) evaluates the gymnast’s performance quality, assessing the precision of each move, form, and the overall execution of the vault.
–Starting Value: The E-score starts at a perfect 10.0.
–Deductions: Points are subtracted for any mistakes in execution, such as:
- Poor form: Bent knees, bent arms, lack of body alignment.
- Low height: Insufficient height or distance from the vault table.
- Execution errors: Lack of control during the flight phase or unsteady landings.
- Unstable landing: Wobbling, taking steps, or falling.
The E-score represents how well the gymnast performed the vault relative to its technical requirements. A perfect E-score of 10.0 is very rare, and even a small error will result in deductions.
3. Total Score Calculation
The gymnast’s final vault score is the sum of the D-score and the E-score.
- Final Score = D-Score + E-Score
For example, if a gymnast performs a Yurchenko Double Pike (D-score of 6.4) and executes it with a near-perfect E-score of 9.9, their total score would be 16.3 (6.4 + 9.9).
However, if the gymnast performs with a few execution errors and their E-score is 9.0, their total score will be 15.4 (6.4 + 9.0). The higher the D-score and the better the execution, the higher the final score.
How Does the Difficulty of the Vault Influence the Score?
The difficulty of a vault plays a critical role in determining a gymnast’s final score, particularly through the Difficulty Score (D-score). Here’s how the complexity of a vault influences the overall score:
1. Higher D-Score for More Complex Vaults
The D-score directly reflects the level of difficulty of the vault. More complex vaults, which involve multiple flips, twists, or difficult body positions, receive higher D-scores. For example:
- Simple Vaults like a Yurchenko Full might have a D-score around 5.0.
- Advanced Vaults, such as the Yurchenko Double Pike, have a D-score of 6.4 due to the added complexity of two flips and the challenging pike position.
2. Increased Potential for a Higher Total Score
The D-score contributes significantly to the total vault score. A higher D-score means the gymnast has the potential to earn a higher final score, provided the execution (E-score) is also strong.
- A vault with a D-score of 6.4 (like the Yurchenko Double Pike) offers a much higher starting value than a vault with a D-score of 5.0 (like a simple Yurchenko Full).
However, the Execution Score (E-score), which evaluates form, height, and landing, will still impact the total score. Even the most difficult vaults can lose points in execution.
3. Risk and Reward
While high-difficulty vaults offer the chance for higher scores, they come with greater risk. More complex elements mean there is more potential for execution errors, such as:
- Poor form during flips or twists.
- Inadequate height or insufficient rotation.
- Landing errors such as taking steps or wobbling.
A gymnast attempting a high-difficulty vault must balance risk with reward—the more difficult the vault, the greater the reward for executing it flawlessly, but the larger the deduction for mistakes.
Other High-Scoring Vaults in Women’s Gymnastics
While Simone Biles holds the current record, other gymnasts have also performed impressive vaults over the years, each contributing to the evolving landscape of vaulting difficulty and performance.
Here are some noteworthy vaults and performances that have contributed to high scores in women’s gymnastics:
1. The Amanar Vault (Performed by McKayla Maroney)
One of the most famous and high-scoring vaults in gymnastics history is the Amanar, named after Romanian gymnast Simona Amanar. This vault is a handspring onto the vault table followed by two twists in the air. It has been performed by several top gymnasts, including McKayla Maroney, whose flawless execution of the Amanar helped raise the bar for women’s vaulting.
- D-Score: 6.3
- Notable Performers: McKayla Maroney, Simone Biles, and others
- Record Score: 16.233 at the 2013 World Championships
- Significance: The Amanar vault played a pivotal role in elevating the difficulty level in women’s vaults. Maroney’s execution at the 2013 World Championships was a standout, with her incredible height and form contributing to a near-perfect performance.
Maroney’s performance of the Amanar vault at the London 2012 Olympics also earned her a silver medal, solidifying it as one of the most iconic vaults in recent gymnastics history.
2. The Cheng Vault
The Cheng Vault, named after Chinese gymnast Cheng Fei, involves a handspring onto the vault table followed by a front somersault with 1.5 twists. This vault requires excellent body control and precision, and it has been consistently performed at a high level by gymnasts such as Simone Biles and others. The Cheng vault remains one of the most difficult and visually striking vaults in gymnastics today.
- D-Score: 6.0
- Notable Performers: Simone Biles, Cheng Fei (creator), and others
- Significance: The Cheng vault is one of the most technically demanding vaults in the sport, with the front somersault twist adding an additional layer of complexity compared to more traditional vaults.
3. The Yurchenko Double Twist (Simone Biles)
Before she introduced the Yurchenko Double Pike, Simone Biles was already performing high-difficulty vaults, including the Yurchenko Double Twist. This vault involves a round-off onto the vault table, followed by a back handspring and two twists in the air before landing. While the Yurchenko Double Twist is slightly less difficult than the Yurchenko Double Pike, it remains one of the highest D-scores in women’s vaulting.
- D-Score: 6.2
- Notable Performers: Simone Biles, Jade Carey, and others
- Significance: The Yurchenko Double Twist was another vault that helped propel the difficulty level in women’s gymnastics. Biles was one of the first gymnasts to perform this vault at a high level, and it continues to be a staple in her routines.
Biles’ achievement has revolutionized vaulting in women’s gymnastics, setting a new bar for difficulty. Despite some attempts by others to replicate or improve the vault, Simone Biles remains the leader in this category due to her unmatched control and execution.
