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Why did Hirano Ayumu’s “ super big skill ” score low?

Photo by iStock.com/simonkr

※The photograph is an image

It was the most near-perfect slide in the history of the men’s halfpipe snowboard at the Winter Olympics.

On Feb. 11, Japan’s Ayumu Hirano landed one of the most difficult feats in the halfpipe, the triple cork 1440, in the second run of the Beijing Winter Olympics final. In addition to spinning vertically three times, Hirano also spins horizontally four times, making it look like a T-shirt spinning at high speed in a dryer. Noda.

After finishing this second run and waiting for the score, almost everyone in the arena and in front of the TV thought that Hirano had risen to the top and had a shot at the gold medal.

However, the results were different. The scoring method for the halfpipe is that six judges (referees) each score out of 100 points, and the competition is based on the average score of the four judges, excluding the highest and lowest scores.

Hirano’s second run score was 91.75, second only to Australia’s Scotty James. James posted a 92.50 on his second run, but didn’t even attempt a triple cork 1440. Still, four of the six judges gave James a higher score than Hirano’s second run. Not just one, but four.

“You can see it was the best run ever.”

What is this all about? There are no numerical and objective scoring standards for halfpipe events at the Olympics, and evaluation is based on the subjective judgment of the judges. In other words, the evaluation is entrusted to the “interpretation” of the individual judge.

And for some reason, at this time, how to see Hirano’s run, the interpretation of the judge and “other than the judge” was too different.

Former U.S. snowboarder Todd Richards, who commented live on NBC television, became the spokesperson for “non-judges” around the world. “Now the judges have ripped their credibility to pieces,” the snowboarding legend enthused live.

“I can see it was the best run I’ve ever had in halfpipe history. Tell me, where did you deduct points from that run? I can’t believe it. Quite frankly, this is farce!”

Hirano ended up winning gold with an even bigger triple cork 1440 on his third run of the final, but the question mark remains for Hirano’s second run judge. What were the judges thinking when they scored incomprehensible points at that time?

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