Opinion: Not allowing warm-ups 'obviously so dangerous' for gymnasts

TOKYO — The International Gymnastics Federation is going to get someone killed.

Gymnasts, coaches – anyone with any common sense, really – are asking once again why the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) prohibits warm-ups before event finals. They’re fine during qualifying. They’re fine for the team competition. And they’re fine for the all-around final.

Yet during event finals, when gymnasts are busting out their biggest and riskiest skills, the FIG is making them go in cold. Quite literally, judging by Russia’s Angelina Melnikova blowing on her hands Sunday night and China’s Lu Yufei and Fan Yilin wearing big, puffy coats.

“That rule is so dumb and it’s obviously so dangerous because you don’t get to go on the event before you get to compete. Which really sucks,” new Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee said after winning a bronze medal on uneven bars Sunday. “That’s just kind of unfair. It sucks for everybody (equally), but I think we deserve it.”