Neues Deutschland. November 4, 1986. Just as the perfect score of 10 represents the ultimate achievement for a gymnast, praise from an authoritative source is the highest accolade for a judge. Ellen Berger, President of the Women's Technical Committee at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), recently awarded just such a 'perfect 10' to newcomer Steffi Kraker. "She was the one with the fewest deviations from the average score. For a novice taking her seat at the international judges' table, this is a magnificent achievement - one on which I offer my heartfelt congratulations." This took place at the recent Gymnastics World Cup in Beijing, where Steffi Kraker made her international debut clad in the dignified dark-blue attire of the judges.
100 Questions For a Certification (Brevet)
An active gymnast until 1982 and for a long-time captain of the national squad - an excellent athlete who, in the vault alone, won three world championship bronze medals and an Olympic silver in 1976 [sic] - she began her studies at the DHfK in her hometown of Leipzig, where she was awarded the Karl Marx Scholarship for her outstanding academic achievements. Yet she never lost sight of gymnastics - neither during her studies (a subject to which we shall return) nor in practice. For the judging course, which the now 26-year-old completed during her university years, was not something even a former world-class gymnast could master with only half-hearted effort or in passing. Especially since that would not be Kraker's style. The blonde athlete passed her exam as a judge two years ago at an international judging course held in Switzerland. "It lasted four days, and to conclude, every participant had to answer 100 written questions and evaluate Swiss gymnasts performing their optional routines," she recounted. The certification she earned there - the FIG judging license - attests to a new qualification that, just last weekend, took her to Rotterdam for international competitions, to the very venue that will host the 1987 World Championships.
Despite her relatively short tenure as a judge, she can certainly attest to the difficulties involved. "At international competitions, many performances are on the same level, and the challenge lies in making precise distinctions within the narrow margin between scores." To do that, she first had to learn how to write - specifically, a system of symbolic notations that captures not only the various elements of a routine and their differing levels of difficulty, but also errors or poor execution. "This is extremely important for being able to review and verify a multitude of routines after the fact," she explained. "While video recordings are indeed consulted in the event of a protest, my written notes - taken from a specific vantage point relative to the apparatus, which may not necessarily coincide with the camera's perspective - allow me to provide a more objective justification for my judgement."
Studying in the Gym
And how does one hone this skill? "By sitting in the gymnasium and closely observing the exercises during training. Incidentally, there are judges' training sessions held prior to every international championship, during which alternate gymnasts from various teams are evaluated on a trial basis."
Could she also judge men's competitions? "On floor, on vault - and perhaps on parallel bars and high bar, too - I would feel confident doing so. But pommel horse and rings? That would be absolutely out of the question, because I wouldn't be able to assess the difficulty levels."
Steffi Kraker also engages with the theoretical aspects of sports officiating. She completed her studies at the DHfK, earning a diploma as a sports teacher, with a grade of "very good." Subsequently, she commenced a research program last year, focusing - among other topics - on psychological issues within the sport of gymnastics, and intends to pursue a doctorate in the future.
With a Red Ribbon
As an active gymnast, she frequently - like every gymnast - had to overcome psychological hurdles. "Once," she recounted, "I simply couldn't remember which leg I was supposed to lead with during the run-up to a vault. I had forgotten it out of sheer nervousness; I just started running, and only realized at the moment of takeoff that I had used the wrong leg. The spectators groaned. For the second attempt, of course, I knew exactly what to do - and my coach advised me to tie a small red ribbon around the correct leg in the future."
It's a memory she recounts with a smile. Yet as a judge, Steffi Kraker is earnestly committed to evaluating every routine with concentration and fairness - just as the judges' oath requires.
W. RICHTER