Do gymnasts submit a routine ahead of time to the judges?
A gymnast does not submit his routine in advance. The only exception is women’s optional vault, where the gymnasts have to post the number of the vault they plan to perform. If a gymnast has invented a new element and would like to receive possible bonus points for it in a meet, s/he can submit the skill to the FIG beforehand. It is evaluated and rated by the FIG. In order for the gymnast to have the element named after him/her, the element must be performed successfully. Judges generally see a gymnast’s routine prior to competition, however, because the judges attend podium training. This is beneficial because a judge can make note of unusual combinations (or routines that lack required elements, etc.) and be certain to evaluate the routine correctly during competition.
