“HELEN HU WITH ABSOLUTE PERFECTION ON BEAM.” ESPN’s X-handle perfectly captured the magic of Helen Hu’s flawless balance beam routine in January. And if you missed it, you missed history in the making. On January 17, in a showdown against powerhouse Oklahoma, Helen delivered a breathtaking performance, earning a perfect 10 on beams—her first in collegiate competition. What made the moment even sweeter? It came in her fifth year of gymnastics, against a top-ranked opponent, and after battling her way back to the sport following a year-long hiatus. In just 1 minute and 13 seconds, she etched her name into Mizzou history. But wait—it gets even more intriguing!

Just about two months later, Helen had another shot at glory. Another chance to defy gravity with her signature elegance and precision. Yet, according to gymnastics fans, she was robbed of the milestone, is what her fans and followers believe—and not because of a misstep of her own. No, this time, it was allegedly someone else’s mistake that cost her. What happened? Let’s dive into the controversy.

On March 22, Mizzou Gymnastics entered the SEC Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, with high hopes—and none higher than those riding on Helen Hu’s beam routine. The redshirt senior, known for her spellbinding elegance and razor-sharp precision, was trusted with the anchor role—the final performer meant to deliver the exclamation point. And deliver she did.

Helen’s routine was near-flawless. With the same graceful flow, delicate movements, and mesmerizing poise that earned her a perfect 10 just two months earlier against Oklahoma, she looked unstoppable. Yet, when the score appeared, it wasn’t the perfect mark fans expected. Instead, she was handed a 9.925—just 0.025 shy of gymnastics perfection.

The arena may have applauded, but gymnastics fans on X were far from satisfied. One fan vented, “helen hu robbed this is already annoying.” Another echoed the sentiment, calling her performance “perfection personified” and questioning the judges’ decision. So, what happened?

In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, Helen’s legs trembled slightly on the beam—a rare, fleeting wobble. Was that the culprit? Perhaps. Yet, many fans argued that her performance was still on par with her Oklahoma meet masterpiece, which received a perfect score. After all, this is the same gymnast who posted a 9.975 or higher in three consecutive meets earlier this year—always on beam. But luck wasn’t with her this time. And this time, the judges didn’t see perfection!

Whether it was a fair deduction or a controversial snub, one thing is certain: Helen Hu is a name that will be spoken with awe and admiration—whether the judges agree or not, and the fans are not in any mood to give up on her. After the match, they lined up on X to display their rage on the judges’ decision. 

Fans stand behind Helen Hu and criticize the judges

“A 9.925 for Helen Hu is robbery.” That single post on X summed up the feelings of gymnastics fans everywhere. On March 22, Helen walked away with a 9.925—a score that felt painfully low to her supporters. But here’s the twist: while the score left fans fuming, it still earned Helen a share of the SEC title, tying her with Haleigh Bryant, Aleah Finnegan, and Faith Torrez. An impressive feat? Absolutely.
But fans couldn’t help but wonder: what if?

Because 0.025 more—the tiniest of margins—would have made Helen the undisputed champion, standing alone at the top. It would have etched her name in SEC history with solo glory. Yet, that sliver of a difference remained just out of reach. And so, the uproar began.

Meanwhile, one fan lamented, “I reeeeeally think Helen Hu’s routine should have scored more than a 9.925.” Another declared it a “daylight robbery”, while someone else simply stated the obvious: “deserved better.” What stung the most was the sense of déjà vu. Fans had seen her score a perfect 10 earlier in the season with nearly the same routine—the same fluidity, the same grace. Yet this time, the judges found 0.075 worth of imperfection.

The difference? A slight wobble on the beam—perhaps enough to justify the deduction. Or was it just the cruel hand of subjective scoring? Regardless, while Helen Hu may have shared the title on paper, she stood alone in the hearts of fans—their undisputed champion.