1988: US Team Docked .5 of a Point

At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, the American team received a .5 of a point deduction – enough to drop them from third to fourth place – because team alternate Rhonda Faehn remained on the podium (the raised competition floor) while a teammate competed. American officials appealed the penalty as a little-known rule that did not affect the competition outcome, and argued that a warning would have been more fair. It was to no avail, however, and the American team ended up out off the medals.

Poll: Was it fair to deduct .5 of a point from the US team?

• Yes, rules are rules. They should have known and followed them.
• No, a warning seems more fair.

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