Why are some people saying that the chinese gymnasts being underage is a disadvantage???

Question

umm hello the younger you are the more flexible you are and the more energy you have so how is that a disadvantage??

Answer 1

Because they are saying that the younger chinese gymnasts lack maturity and are likely to crack under the enormous pressure of competing at the olympics.  

Answer 2

Being underage is not a disadvantage. Obviously, they won against the USA team who are older. Who knows for sure the age of the Chinese girls anyway. I'm Chinese, 4' 9" and 20 years old who gets mistaken as 14 years of age.

Answer 3

Look at the girls' pictures and decide for yourself:

http://snapolympics.com/v/controversial/...

Answer 4

The supposed disadvantage would have been to the USA and other older than 16 year old gymnasts.  Because younger girls are more flexible and have less fear, the younger girls could perform harder tricks better than the older girls who may not be as flexible and have more fear because they realize what could happen if they fall. Now do you get it? There is no disadvantage to the younger gymnast when it comes to the competition.

Age shouldn't matter. If the girls work hard to be there, then they deserve to try to win.

Answer 5

its a disadvantage to the other teams

Answer 6

Hello! Why did the US beat China in 2007 by 1 point with the SAME gymnasts and can't do it here?

The more bickering the more US gymnasts will not succeed.

The less bickering=GOLD in 2007.

Answer 7

its that they are inexperienced and how they will react to the pressure of the olympics. it is not fair. i dont like china.

USA!

Answer 8

its a disadvantage to other gymnastics teams. plus its also, obviously against the rules.

Answer 9

hmm..i've yet to see anyone saying the underage Chinese gymnast is having disadvantage..I've seen a lot saying that it is unfair for others..

Answer 10

It's an advantage to the Chinese government because they are treated as disposable athletes. There are always young ones to replace them. The sporting machines are part of the Chinese government propaganda. That's why Chinese athletes do not last very long. However I can see that it's changing for the better now because they get a better chance to defect and live outside China. They are now more educated academically rather than being trained animals like the past. They used to have no chance to live outside China (and feel happy). Now they can as they become more educated. In the past hardly any Chinese athletes spoke English. It's getting better. I think eventually the performance will slow and they will become older and last longer.

Answer 11

Honstly, this whole bit about them being younger is just an excuse and something sore losers would say. Being younger by like what, 2 years at most means nothing.

Also, being younger doesnt automatically entail being lighter as some idiots are saying. You are weaker, because your body hasn't developed. And as for younger athletes not feeling any pressure? thats absolute BULL! China puts WAAAAAY more pressure on their athletes than the US does. YOu cannot even begin to comprehend.

Think about it. You train your entire life for this one moment, you have nothing to fall back on, gymnastics is all you have. You have been selected from like kindergarden to do this. If you fail, your life has been a waste and there is a huge sense of responsibility that they have toward their government to win.

It may be wrong to break rules and put in underage gymnasts, but there certainly is NO advantage or disadvantage.

lastly, the dispute is over 1 year. ppl who question the underage gymnasts refer to stats saying they are 14. Currently, the Chineses claim they are 15 and are TURNING 16....So there you go, the dispute is over 1 year... big whoop guys... I refuse to believe 1 year makes such a difference in body type, mentality, and overall performance

BTW, I'm american, so I'm not being biased here

Answer 12

Lack of experience, shorter arms/wing span, less stronger physically and mentally. Susceptible to fear or lack of fear depends entirely on the individual.  

Answer 13

its not a disadvantage to the chinese team, obviously, it is to the other teams. and it is against the rules. you have to turn 16 years old in the olympic year to be able to compete.

Answer 14

If they were younger, they'd weigh less, making them more flexible in the air giving a disadvantage to other gymnastics teams.  

Answer 15

to the US(and other teams), it is.

and i heard the commentators last night saying that it's less stressful for them since they're supposedly younger