Is it just me, or do you get mad that the Chinese Gymnasts are like 11 years old?

Question

I know it SAYS they're 16, but come on! There is no way!!! They look like they're 11 or 12. Thoughts?

Answer 1

Yes, China gets an asterisk next to that gold medal, but let's be fair, it was there for the taking and the U.S. choked it away.    

Answer 2

From ESPN:

Age falsification has been a problem in gymnastics since the 1980s, after the minimum age was raised from 14 to 15 to protect young athletes from serious injuries. The minimum age was raised to its current 16 in 1997.  North Korea was barred from the 1993 world championships after FIG officials discovered that Kim Gwang Suk, the gold medalist on uneven bars in 1991, was listed as 15 for three years in a row. Romania admitted in 2002 that several gymnasts' ages had been falsified, including Olympic medalists Gina Gogean and Alexandra Marinescu.  Even China's own Yang Yun, a double bronze medalist in Sydney, said during an interview aired on state broadcaster China Central Television that she was 14 in 2000.

Also from ESPN:

Yang Yilin: according to 2004, 2005 and 2006 registration lists previously published on the website of the General Administration of Sport of China, she was born on August 26, 1993.  That would make her 14 at the time of competition, turning 15 during the calendar year of the Olympics. However, the registration list changed in 2007 and her birthday is now listed as August 26, 1992, making her eligible

He Kexin:  according to 2005, 2006 and 2007 registration lists located by the Asscoiated Press, her birthday is listed as January 1, 1994.  That would make her 14 at the time of competition and 14 during the calendar year of the Olympics.  In a passport issued to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) her birth date is listed as January 1, 1992, making her eligible.  

Jiang Yuyuan: according to a list of competitors at a 2007 provincial competition, her birthday is listed as October 1, 1993.  That would make her 14 at the time of competition, turning 15 during the calendar year of the Olympics.  In a passport issued to the IOC, her birth date is listed as November 1, 1991, not even in the same month as previously documented lists, but with a date making her eligible.

Finally...

"Apart from violating international standards in numerous cases, this age advantage puts other nations at a disadvantage and boosts the competitive ability of the Chinese team.  While it may seem contrary to the "age is experience" mindset of other sports and situations, youth, fearlessness and the nature of a woman's physique give younger gymnasts an edge."

Answer 3

China is cheating.

From the New York Times:

"In Chinese newspaper profiles this year, He was listed as 14, too young for the Beijing Games.

"The Times found two online records of official registration lists of Chinese gymnasts that list He’s birthday as Jan. 1, 1994, which would make her 14. A 2007 national registry of Chinese gymnasts — now blocked in China but viewable through Google cache — shows He’s age as '1994.1.1.'

"Another registration list that is unblocked, dated Jan. 27, 2006, and regarding an 'intercity' competition in Chengdu, China, also lists He’s birthday as Jan. 1, 1994. That date differs by two years from the birth date of Jan. 1, 1992, listed on He’s passport, which was issued Feb. 14, 2008."

An admission of cheating in 2000:

"Yang Yun of China won individual and team bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and later said in an interview on state-run television that she had been 14 at the time of those Games. A Hunan Province sports administration report also said later that she had been 14 when she competed in Sydney."

China's People's Daily newspaper stating He Kexin's age as 14 on May 23, 2008:

"Olympic gymnastics title contenders suddenly have one more thing to worry about other than the eight gold medals China claimed at the Tianjin World Cup last week. Her name is He Kexin.

"The 14-year-old newcomer to the national team, who was recruited last year, has raised a lot of eyebrows recently after she broke two world records on the uneven bars in as many months. She will be just one more weapon on an already star-studded Chinese Olympic squad."

Answer 4

why should it matter.. they've got skills so they can compete it's not about age.. if your good then your good. .don't let age judge your talent and hold you back.. and the us has that super tiny girl who looks like she's 8 so don't complain.

Answer 5

Meg M, there's a 14-year-old boy on another Olympic team. The diver from Great Britain? Does that mean they are cheating too?

Answer 6

Its true that the USA girls didn't perform their best, however- there is an official rule in the olympics that states that you MUST be at least 16 in the olympic year to compete. It is also true that Chinese women come small and often look younger than they are, however there is actual documentation that lists some of the Chinese women as being younger than 16. If that is the case- its cheating. Whether we performed our best or not, it would be cheating. Experts have said that younger gymnasts have an advantage because they are more fearless when it comes to stunts and often don't get as nervous.

And to comment on something else, Shawn Johnson- the shortest member of the US team is 16, actually she is about 5 months from her 17th birthday.

Answer 7

No not mad but it proves the a point that America still kicks a$$ with out cheating. We are just sooo much better than China and that makes me happy

Answer 8

Yes it bothers me.  I think it's cheating in a way but no one can prove it.  The America's had a opportunity to beat the little girls but they stumbled all over the place.

Edited to add..it's find if there wasn't any age limit but it is and if others want to use very, very young competitors then all the nations should have to opportunity to do so.

lol...

Answer 9

As far as I'm concerned the Olympics are bullsh*t. It used to be that athletes participated for the competition but now, like everything else in sports, it's all about the money.

Britain moved to have baseball and softball removed from the competition because they didn't want to build a couple of fields that they would not use once the games were over.

Countries will do whatever it takes to win including finding ways to circumvent or break the rules. s***w the Olympics...the whole concept is a sham.

Answer 10

If you've ever really looked at a Chinese woman, they all look WAY younger than they really are.  It's in their genes.  They can't help it.  That being said, USA still kicks butt!

Answer 11

Are you sure they are just ll or 12...there were a couple that looked like they were more like 7 or 8...just proves what eugenics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics)   does to a nation, socialism DOESN'T WORK PEOPLE, why do you think America has prospered? So far we havent forced people to do things they don't wan't too. BUT we are coming to that point...if we don't something soon we will be just like china...we will be breading people instead of falling in love, getting married and having as many children as God provides us with....if you'd like to learn more about how china is being persecuted go to    http://www.persecution.com/     or more about the horror of eugenics http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation...

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002...

Answer 12

Yes I agree with you, I really doubt that they are 16, come on just look at them, I definitely think they are underage and I know they said they showed their passports to prove their age but they could be fake, there are so many things on the black market that come from China so I wouldn't doubt it.  

Answer 13

Come on guys. American made alot mistakes in the final round to give away their gold and now you guys stupid fuc* saying China underage and boycott 2012. What else you guys can think of to give yourself some credit? If you guys can't learn from the mistake and blame on others to take away their hard work, you guys are fuc* up.

Answer 14

Oh I know! Seriously? They're like 4 feet tall and have baby faces. At least other gymnasts look like they're 16.  

Answer 15

It doesn't make mad.. I just think it bites that they have to be dishonest in order to win. There are a lot of things about this Olympics that I think are fishy. I don't care if America wins or loses, I just want to see a fair competition.. I haven't seen that in some of the "judged" games. Those girls haven't hit puberty yet.. yeah they were good, but the rules state they must be 16 in order to compete. . It also bugs me people keep saying the Americans choked. They got silver and did well.. It not like they didn't medal..