Chinese gymnasts in the olympics?

Question

Why do the chinese (woman's) gymnasts look SO young in comparison with the other countries, i was under the impression that they had to be 16+ but some of them look about 8!

Answer 1

I totally agree with you I am not convinced that some of them have not had their ages falsified. I remember watching something years ago about a retired gymnast who said that she was told by her coach one day 'right from now you are 15 not 13 and you must never say anything different to anyone'. The age limit is that you have to be or are going to be 16 in the olympic year so they would have to be at least 15 and some of them really do not look that old. I would never be surprised to hear that one has been proved to be underage.

Answer 2

I agree that they look younger than 16 or 15.  one of them looked like she was missing baby teeth, and if you look at their bone structure you can tell they're much younger.  I know it has to do with your genetic makeup and things like that, but it's weird that they all have the same physical structure.  short, no curves or slightly widened hips, and very little body mass.  even Dominic Moceanu and Nadia Comaneci who were 14 when they competed in the Olympics had some sort of figure.  If it was 1 or 2 of them who looked like that then I wouldn't think much of it, but all of them???

Answer 3

This has already been highlighted by the press, who picked up inaccuracies in dates of births when these gymnasts had entered previous competitions.

Answer 4

yes they do look young, but they have no proof of there age because the IOC only gets a passport that the country could falseify easily. I'm pretty sure there smallest is 12.  

Answer 5

the IOC are hiding under the blanket called...Ignorance is bliss.

The chinese authorities have produced passports for these underaged athletes stating they are all 16 +

However, journalists have found that 8 of the team in the previous two years have been entering competions as 12/13 year olds, but now suddenly they are all 16+ Go figure!!

Answer 6

asian people generally look very young even if they are 16. Western people mature more in their late teens hence a 16 year old looks like an 18-20 year old!.

Answer 7

16?????? in your dreams!  Most of the USA team look 14.

Answer 8

I truly believe they're not 16 ( or 15 about to turn 16 in the olympic year).

I read on MSNBC that an interview was done with one of the Chinese gymnasts & a trick question was asked, "What did you do on your 15th birthday?"....she answered that she just hung out with her friends.

hhhhmmmm.....

Answer 9

well i had proof of age but apparently chinese government paid this sight off and they stopped the page.worked this morning.

Answer 10

i think all female gymnasts look younger for their age.   The fact is someone is going to have to prove it if they are to be disqualified.  At this point, it would probably be easier to beat Michael Phelps in the 200 m fly.

Answer 11

Now are you jealous of their success, this is very bad, they dont take drugs most of the athletes from western countries do.... Atleast there is not a single Marion Jones in china like USA did....

Answer 12

Before you go on Ashley, go on yourself. You would say a 40 year old that looks 25 is healthy, so why not a 16 year old that looks 8? Asians as a whole are healthier people, which is why Asian women have the longest life spans WORLD WIDE. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Answer 13

I wondered that myself but I've always noticed that they look younger, Chinese women, I really don't think they could get away with that.

And to the other person that posted this...the reporter asking her what she did on her 15th birthday, how is that a trick question, I could be 20 and still answer what I did on my 15th birthday.......  

Answer 14

most asian girls look young. I have a friend who is about 139cm and is 15 years old. She does not look her age all, but in this case of chinese gymnasts they do not look like they are 16+. There are many girls from china in my school and not one comes close to looking young like them.

Answer 15

they do look very young....i think they r under age...on the news they a professional face studyier can look at faces and tell how old someone is...she said that one of the gymnasts' chin was too small and ears were to small for a 16 yr old. but maybe the asians r just really short and really skinny and weigh very little too...the average of the whole team is like 4 ft 9 and 70 or 80 pounds

i think USA shoulda won gold...they deserved it cuz younger girls have an advantage they r more flexible and they dont feel as much pressure

Answer 16

Yes, I was wondering the same thing! They don't look 8, probably more like 10 or 11.

Answer 17

You were not seeing things.

The Chinease were ALL under 16 except maybe the fat chubby one!

Cheaters never prosper!

GO USA!

Answer 18

asian people in general have a healthier and better diet than most countries and normally they always look younger than others in comparison...thats my thoughts

EDIT

well i  know at my school the asian people i see walking around are a lot smaller than us. they eat more healthfully and with less protein and bad preservatives in thier diets, and it would obviously make them smaller. i agree that the gymnasts were crazily small last night, but im not too surprised..they train them from the time they are like 3  or 4 and they wanna keep them small and compact, so you never know whats going on...but they looked the right age in the face to me *shrugging shoulders*

Answer 19

the chinese government is evil....  it's not fair and they really should have been disqualified so i'm really annoyed that the rules were not followed in this.  what's the point of having strict olympic rules if people are going to just take advantage of it and lie?  they do not deserve the gold (unlike the today lady said they did just to stay "politically correct".  give me a break....paleeze!

Answer 20

They look way younger than the Americans because if you compare body types of the US athletes against the Chinese, race does not matter when comparing age because US 12 year olds look just like Chinese 12 year olds.  The Americans look mature and got rid of their baby teeth whereas the Chinese have jacked up goat teeth (can the Chinese govt. make them stop smiling?????) and look prepubescent.

Also, since part of China counts as a 3rd world country, maybe they might use the excuse of "coming from poor families so that they don't eat on a regular basis" so that will try to fool the World into thinking that they're just small for their age.

Being the host country does not mean that you get a "free pass" to cheat.....    

Answer 21

that is why some are being questioned about their age.