I'm Dutch, like Epke, and proud as hell! This is the best high bar routine anyone has ever done. And with this one he is goign into Olympic and Dutch history! Unbelievable, Epke!
I've now watched this video about a dozen times and it still thrills me. It's so inspiring to watch, with the added bonus of him being just freaking adorable :)
after this masterpiece - the code of points was changed drastically - especially for connect values. don't know what the D score would be in 2022 but it would be nowhere near the 7.9 given this exercise. a classic example of the code dictating that the gymnasts water down the routines.
My understanding is that the COP was changed to discourage gymnasts from literally killing themselves trying to chase high D scores for very dangerous routines. That was the main reason for downgrading Simone Biles double-double dismount - because if the gymnast gets it the slightest bit wrong they end up seriously injured or dead. I suspect it was the same story here.
@@chooseyourpoison5105 that's not quite what happened - the number of permitted connect values were limited and many skills were downgraded after this "Epic" performance. you could always only count the 10 highest rated skills (actually 9 skills other than the dismount) which kept the gymnast from killing himself to get a higher Dscore. also, the WAG code and its evolution is totally different although both have evolved along the lines of protecting the athlete. see for example the elimination of "dive" floor exercise skills like the Thomas Salto.
if there was a harder trick in the universe, he'd be doing that trick. he did all 4 of the most difficult high maneuvers; 3 in a row. then those German giant kick-outs into a full pirouette... yikes. best ever.
He was clean enough to win. His skill level is incredible but his execution does suffer as a result. The skills aren't performed poorly or unsafely, but he does rack up lots of little deductions for finishing pirouettes past handstand, bent elbows, leg separations, etc. But it's worked out just fine for him. He managed to be a physician, husband, father, and Olympic champion all at the same time.
@@flipsntricks9143 He is speaking from an objective technical standpoint. If a judge downgrades a gymnast for breaking form, the gymnast doesn’t say to the judge, “can you do better?”
Who needs to be clean when you're throwing skills like that? IMHO men's gym scoring needs to weigh more towards skills and guts and less towards perfection.
many of his elements were poorly performed for a specialist and it is hard to see why the judges awarded such a high score for such a mediocre performance...
