LSU Tigers Under Fire as Gymnastics Fans Erupt Over Star Athlete’s Perfect 10

It seems it doesn’t matter if the LSU Tigers win or lose; the fans will grill them regardless. Don’t agree? Well, just see their heated clash with the Georgia Gymdogs on March 7th. Even after posting a mammoth 198.575 against the #10 team or even Aleah Finnegan getting her season highscore, the only thing the fans have to talk about is a moonwalk. Yes, you heard that right. And the fans aren’t too happy. But again, why should they? Because once again, the ugly head of judging mistakes showed itself.

To give you more context in the recent clash between the defending LSU and the Gymdogs, Aleah delivered only the third perfect 10 in Balance Beams. But she didn’t even get to be the highlight reel of the night. Why? Well, someone on the opposing team just performed a moonwalk as part of her routine on the balance beams. And that someone is Georgia junior Ja’Free Scott.

Scott’s moonwalk on the beam was also a nod to a long-standing Georgia tradition. She became the eighth Gymdog to perform the move, joining the likes of Nikki Childs, Cassidy McComb, and Lindsey Cheek, among others. It was simply sensational to say the least and left the audiences stunned. Surely such a performance would’ve guaranteed another perfect 10, right? Sadly no. All she got was a 9.925.

But this is still a career high score for her, contributing to Georgia’s 49.200 team score in the event. Earlier in the meet, she also delivered an impressive 9.925 on the uneven bars. But irrespective of all this, both Ja’Free and the Gymdogs had to settle with being the runner-up for the night as Finnegan’s 10 helped the defending champs to finish their last home game with a bang. However, Aleah Finnegan too, just like her Georgia counterpart, had to settle for nothing.

Why? Because it was teammate Konnor McClain who secured the all-around title. With an overall score of 39.800, she clutched the title. Meanwhile, Georgia had nothing to show for the night, as their dreams of a title race are perhaps finished. The only high point is probably Anya Turner and Lily Smith getting their seasons high scores of 9.975 and 9.950 on the beams.

But these all pale in comparison to the debate that has spilled online after the Planet of Gymnastics uploaded a post regarding the low score for Ja’Free Scott despite her remarkable performance. And while Finnegan and Konnor might be basking in the glory of their win, the internet is not yet ready for that. They simply cannot accept that Scott didn’t get a perfect 10 as well. And their comments show their feelings.

Fans get furious over LSU Tiger’s athlete getting a perfect 10 over Georgia

After the meet, the debate spilled over onto social media, with one fan commenting, Scott’s routine saying, “It would have been a 10 for sure in Athens ❤️🖤 it was beautiful.” Even the fans can’t deny the greatness of the front aerial, the split jump, flexibility and the all-too-famous moonwalk shown by Scott against the LSU Tigers.

One fan commented, “No, I thought it was at least 9.95. It was stunning, and my team is LSU, but I’m a fan of great gymnastics that should reflect the score.” Many others echoed this sentiment, arguing that the score did not fairly reflect the performance. Some others, however, argue it might have something to do with the landing.

Another fan added, “Beautiful routine! I love the moonwalk in it. She deserved a higher score.” The debate only intensified as more fans weighed in, questioning the judging process and the scoring disparities between gymnasts from different teams. One fan was quick to remark, “When the 9.925 routine was better than the one that got a 10…” highlighting the controversy surrounding the scoring.

Another fan on X commented, “Underscored again! If an LSU gymnast had done this exact routine, they would have scored a minimum of 9.975.” This argument gained traction, with many suggesting that bias may have played a role in the final scores. But again, this isn’t something that either LSU or Georgia can do something about, as judging issues have been a major talk this season.

While Aleah Finnegan’s perfect 10 was undoubtedly a momentous achievement for LSU, the discussion surrounding Ja’Free Scott’s performance continues to dominate fan conversations. The gymnastics community remains divided over whether Scott’s moonwalk-filled beam routine deserved a perfect score, adding another layer of intensity to the LSU-Georgia rivalry.