FIG apologizes for scoring mistake as Darja Varfolomeev wins gold at World Championships in Rio

Germany’s Darja Varfolomeev kept her crown in the individual all-around at the 2025 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but the event ended with an apology from the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

On August 24, 2025, FIG admitted there had been a computer error during the Group All-Around qualifications, which forced the competition to stop for almost 50 minutes while judges fixed the scores. The governing body later said, “We deeply regret the incident that occurred this afternoon during the group qualifications and extend our sincere apologies.”

Darja Varfolomeev takes title in Rio as Sofia Raffaeli and Stiliana Nikolova win medals

The championships in Rio de Janeiro were historic, marking the 41st edition and the first time ever in South America.

On the final day, Darja Varfolomeev defended her title with gold in the individual all-around. Stiliana Nikolova of Bulgaria won silver, and Sofia Raffaeli of Italy took bronze.

For the United States, the team of Rin Keys, Megan Chu, and the Senior Group scored a total of 253.600 points, finishing 12th in the team standings. In the Group All-Around, the U.S. Senior Group placed 31st with 32.700 points, while Japan claimed the gold medal with a score of 55.550.

But the Group All-Around also saw the error that led to the FIG’s apology. Judges noticed that deductions for artistry were not showing up correctly in the overall scores. This was later confirmed as a computer glitch in the scoring system.Also Read: Ryan Garcia Blasts Raja Jackson After Brutal Attack Leaves Syko Stu Unconscious In California Ring

FIG admits computer glitch and recalls past judging errors

The FIG explained the issue in a letter sent to all national federations competing in Rio. The body said, “Thanks to the entry logs, we were able to re-enter all the data initially recorded by each judge on their tablets and recalculate the scores.

For this reason, your scores have been slightly adjusted. However, we can confirm that they are now correct and accurately reflect what took place during the performance of your Group.

”This was not the first time scoring mistakes have troubled gymnastics. At the 2025 U.S. Classic, Myli Lew received a score of 14.050 on uneven bars, which raised questions because of repeated skills and composition errors. In May 2024, at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Athens, Greece, FIG also admitted a serious scoring error after judges’ scores were reversed in the clubs and ribbon qualifications. That mistake changed the rankings and forced FIG to cut ties with the scoring provider Best Solutions International (Bulgaria).In Athens, Darja Varfolomeev also dominated, winning all-around, clubs, and ball, while Sofia Raffaeli won ribbon and Wang Zilu of China took hoop. In the group events, Italy won 5 hoops, and China took the combination routine.