The highest score in women’s gymnastics history varies depending on the competition and scoring system used. However, under the modern scoring system (which began after the 2006 changes to the Code of Points), the highest possible score in a routine is 10.0.
That being said, no gymnast has scored a perfect 10.0 in a major international competition since the scoring system changed, as the current system rewards difficulty (D-score) and execution (E-score), making a perfect 10 impossible under the current framework.
Some notable high scores include:
– Nadia Comăneci: At the 1976 Summer Olympics, she scored the first-ever perfect 10.0 in gymnastics history, on the uneven bars. Although the scoring system at that time was different, this remains one of the most iconic moments in gymnastics history.
– Simone Biles: In recent years, Simone Biles has consistently scored very high, with multiple scores above 15.0 in various routines, thanks to her extremely high-difficulty routines. However, under the modern system, it is difficult to compare those scores directly to the perfect 10.0 of the past. Her highest recorded score in a competition was a 15.733 on the floor exercise at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
So, the highest recorded score in the modern era, especially for Simone Biles’ routines, often exceeds 15.0, but the perfect 10.0 will always be remembered as the ultimate achievement under the old scoring system.
