What is the penalty for a gymnast who does not appropriately salute before starting their routine?

The penalty for a gymnast who fails to appropriately salute before starting their routine is set at 0.5. This is designed to emphasize the importance of etiquette and respect for the judges and the competition. An appropriate salute is part of the gymnast’s presentation and is expected as a demonstration of professionalism. A penalty of 0.5 reflects the significance of adhering to this fundamental aspect of the sport.

The penalties for not saluting are designed to motivate gymnasts to pay careful attention to all aspects of their routines, not just the technical elements. While other options present differing penalty amounts, the established guidelines in gymnastics scoring outline that a failure in this area carries a specific penalty of 0.5, which serves to maintain the integrity and tradition of the sport.