In 2000, this was reduced across the board to a "6–5–4" format; the 2004 competition kept this format. Further, while in 1996 all 7 team members could compete on each apparatus for individual purposes, in 2000 and 2004 only the 5 designated for that apparatus competed.
This change was implemented uniformly across the board to a "6–5–4" format in 2000; the 2004 competition continued with this format. Moreover, while all 7 team members could compete on each apparatus for personal reasons in 1996, by 2000 and 2004, only the 5 designated for that apparatus were allowed to participate.