Saying that gymnastics is an ever evolving sport is an understatement. In the last ten years, we have gone from the vaulting horse to the vaulting table, from four floor passes to five and back to four, and the biggest change of all, the restructuring of the Code of Points. With everything that has changed during this era of the sport, it is easy to overlook one of the largest changes.

For those who began their journey as gymnastics fans watching Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin, they have missed out on what is considered to be one of the best things the sport had to offer. Until the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, there was the compulsory competition. The compulsories, which have been replaced with what we know as prelims, were routines that tested the limits of basic skills. Each routine on each apparatus was pre-choreographed. Every gymnast, no matter what country they represented, had to perform the same exact routines.

Each skill was basic, but with a catch. Each skill had to be text book perfect. And no skill could be left out.

After 1996, the FIG decided that the compulsories were out dated and unnecessary. But it is important to remember why the compulsories were a part of the sport to begin with. It gave countries that had less developed gymnastics programs and limited resources the chance to advance to all around and event finals. The scores from compulsories were added to the optional scores which resulted in the gymnast's final placing. It also helped these country’s gymnasts to perform the more difficult skills required for optional competition by helping them to master the basics.

Now, without the compulsories, these countries are being overlooked. They are unable to place in finals and if they do, it is an upset. Countries such as the United States, Russia, Romania and China don’t have to worry about not placing. This is especially true for the women’s side of the sport. But what if they represented Singapore, Uzbekistan or Hungary?

Compulsories were a necessary part of the sport to say the least. It is almost numbing to know that the United States, Russia, Romania and China are the countries that have the best shot of bringing home medals. It is a cycle that has repeated since 1996. These four country’s teams have been in the top three at World Championships and Olympic Games for the past 15 years with the exception of Australia’s bronze medal finish at Worlds in 2003. Individually for women's artistic gymnastics, only France, Spain, Australia, Great Britain, Sweden, Germany, Uzbekistan, North Korea, Brazil, Italy, Canada, Ukraine and the Netherlands have won individual medals in the all around or event finals. These countries have medaled once or twice with the main power houses bring home four or five times the amount of medals.

Gymnastics is about innovation. It always has been and it always will be.  It is important to remember that innovation breeds diversity. And from diversity comes an understanding that brings different ideas together. This is much like the sport. Bringing gymnasts and fans from different countries together. And when everyone is represented, it creates a true competition.