What's the big deal about the Chinese gymnast's age? What are your thoughts?

Question

I obviously don't know anything about gymnastics but, I look at it this way. If gymnast are able to compete at pro level regardless of age, then let them compete.

Dara Torres is the oldest woman in swimming to compete in the Olympics at age 41. She's more than proven herself. Forget age! Like the Nike commerical says, "Just do it!" Forget the bureaucratic tape. Compete for the love of the sport! ( ^ _ ^ )

Answer 1

The "big deal" is that in gymnastics, younger girls, especially before they reach puberty, have an advantage.  (More flexible, they heal easier, etc.)

Thus, a country that chooses to break the rules and use younger girls has a distinct advantage.

Below is a quote from the website listed below:

"Several online records and reports show He Kexin, the host nation's top competitor on uneven bars, and Jiang Yuyuan might not yet be 16, the minimum age for Olympic eligibility. Both were chosen for China's team last week.

On the Web site of the Chengdu Sports Bureau -- Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province in southwest China -- a file dated January 2006 shows He Kexin as being born Jan. 1, 1994.

Most recently, a May 23 story in the China Daily newspaper, the official English-language paper of the Chinese government, had He Kexin's age as 14.

The newspaper story begins: "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."

The New York Times raised questions about the athletes' ages in a story SATURDAY.

In a speech on Nov. 3, 2007, in the central city of Wuhan, Liu Peng, director of general administration of sport for China, said: "The 13-year-old uneven-bar gymnast He Kexin, who defeated national team athlete Yang Yilin -- she just won the bronze medal in the world championships -- has demonstrated her ability."

To be eligible for the Cities Games where Liu made his remarks, Chinese documents show athletes must be over 13, but under 15."

It seems there is enough evidence for an investigation.  Whether it happens or not, is anyone's guess.

I agree, forget about age and let anyone compete but if there ARE rules, they should be followed.

Answer 2

i think that alot of people cant get over that they won..... and they need to shut there mouths because im American and I dont want poeple to lable me as one of those poor sports becuase some people, not all cant take a loss

Answer 3

Yea I agree people  are just upset because those girls did a great job

Answer 4

because for one, they break the rules. just because they want to win. and then they win a gold medal. its crazy!

Answer 5

Because China is cheating, as usual.  In most parts of the world, that's frowned upon.

Answer 6

Because the rule is you have to be 16. It is an established rule and they clearly broke it. All other countries follow the rules and China should as well.

Answer 7

It's called child abuse dumbazzes

As Americans we are morally not supposed to support activities that exploit children and  it doesn't matter one damned   bit whether or not those activities take place on theses shores or on other shores .

To have a 12 year old child become a world class athlete means that regardless of their nationality that child had to be abused somewhere during that process

Unlike their American counter-parts these Chinese children probably had no choice in their decision  to to become gymnasts

The State decreed that it be so and so they became gymnasts  or whatever

Modern era women's gymnastics{ do these girls even menstruate regularly ?}  has had a long and sad history of creating anorexics and bulimics among it's participants

We as a moral people have a moral obligation to stop the exploitation of the children of the world,

Pop Quiz:

W/o looking it up ;What s*x was Nike?

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Update

I stand by my position

If you guys actually LOOKED at those  girls AND assumed that they were ACTUALLY  16 there is simply no way h**l that you could come to the conclusion that those bodies were the bodies of HEALTHY young women

State sponsored eating disorders are indeed a form of child abuse

Answer 8

I agree. Just let things be fair for everyone all around is all. They are doing things the backstairs kinda way you know, if we had 13 and 14 yr olds then we would be hopping like Kangaroos too.lol. Like Dominique Dawes pointed out in her commentary, it should be by weight limit and not age.If all is done in fairness then the USA got their butts kicked(they did anyways), but it would not have been questionable.http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist...

Answer 9

In China's provincial records (from around 2004-2006) 3 gymnasts, He Kexin, Yang Yilin and Jiang Yuyuan have recorded birthdates of 1994, 1993 and 1993. These dates would make all 3 girls ineligible to compete in the Beijing games, since you must be 16 or turning 16 within the Olympic year. Later on, (in 2007) the years of their birthdates were mysteriously changed to 1992, on these records.

Yang Yun, who was a gymnast who competed for China in the Sydney Olympics stated that she was only 14 at the time (her age though was listed as 16).

China has done this before and I certainly think they are doing it again.

In such a highly controlled nation, it is easy for the government to falsify their passports/do whatever it takes, etc to state that their best girls are of age to compete.

When China has a wide assortment of young and highly talented tricksters to choose from, it is easy for them to hand-select anyone they need so that they come out with the A-score advantage.

Had China used athletes that were all actually 16+ they would not have fielded such a strong team and most definitely would not have won.

People in the US gymnastics community have known about this particular team and the problems in regard to their actual ages for quite some time now. No one is "being a sore loser" and suddenly pointing out anything that wasnt there before. The Chinese team is just getting more media attention now that the Olympics are finally here.

I think that the rules should be followed and that cheating should not be allowed...age falsification to field your best team is no different than doping...and cheating is certainly not aligned with the spirit of the Olympic games: fair play.

Answer 10

For younger gymnast it is easier for their bodies to flip so it is a pretty much of a disadvantage. But i do agree that at any age should be able to be in the olympics.

Answer 11

What are you talking about?

They're sixteen years old. One is 20.

Answer 12

Because the rules say that you must be 16 or older.

Whether that rule is good or not is for a different debate. The fact that the rule exists and China chooses to break it means the Chinese are cheating.

Answer 13

Aduka: The questioner has the same sentiment as you.  Please read and understand before posting.

And I am extremely tired of the whining.  I don't even care if they're cheating anymore, I can't think of any worse way to treat the Olympics.  The Greeks didn't take Paul Hamm's controversy well four years ago, don't follow them in their path.

Answer 14

It's the mental factor. People less than 16 heal quicker and are willing to do much more difficult moves without worrying. But I actually agree with you. Olympic athletes should be able to overcome all odds and age should be another.