Compare E then D
Break ties by comparing execution score first, then difficulty score.
Visual guide: View the decision tree in Figma
How It Works
Two gymnasts have the same final score on an apparatus.
Compare their execution scores (E score). The gymnast with the higher E score ranks first.
If execution scores are also tied, compare their difficulty scores (D score). The gymnast with the higher D score ranks first.
If both E and D are tied, the gymnasts share the same rank.
This algorithm rewards cleaner execution when final scores are equal.
Example
Two gymnasts tie on Balance Beam with a final score of 13.450:
Alice
13.450
8.650
4.800
1st
Bob
13.450
8.450
5.000
2nd
Alice wins because her execution score (8.650) is higher than Bob's (8.450), even though Bob had a harder routine.
For All-Around Context
When used as the all-around tiebreaker, the system compares the all-around execution total and all-around difficulty total (the sums across all apparatus).
When to Use
Most standard competitions — this is the default and most widely used tiebreaker in artistic gymnastics.
When your governing body prioritizes execution quality over difficulty.
Suitable for all levels from developmental through elite.
Related
Tiebreaker: Compare D then E — the reverse order
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