Execution

Execution is the quality of performance: whether the body shape is correct and clean, whether the skill is high and extended, whether the rhythm is continuous and the landing controlled. It’s assessed separately from difficulty, by a separate panel of judges, and produces the E-score.

The Codes of Points expect every skill to be performed with “perfect” technique and deduct for every departure from it — bent arms or knees, legs apart, feet not pointed, a pike that isn’t tight enough, a pause, a step on landing. Many faults are deducted each time they occur.

Splitting execution from difficulty is the core idea of the modern scoring system, introduced in 2006: a gymnast performing easier skills cleanly and one performing harder skills less cleanly can both be scored fairly, before the two scores are added together.

In women’s gymnastics, execution and artistry are judged together on beam and floor.