Why do the chinese gymnasts have to be 16 years old or older?

Question

I was watching the olympics yesterday and i had heard about the controversy (sp?) over the chinese gymnasts being underage but i saw a gymnast from russia and she was only 15 years old. Is that just a rule for china?

Ohh and shawn johnson is AMAZING!!! I think she should have won gold =]

Answer 1

No, the rule for everyone is that they be at least 15 (turning 16) within that olympic year. The news reports I have been reading state that some of the Chinese are under 15, basically that their passports were altered to state a different birth year. If I was the athlete, I would find it disgraceful. I couldn't live with cheating just to win. Besides, the rule was set in place (1) because any younger than 15/16 and you haven't completely grown yet and (2) any younger than that and it's an unfair advantage being that they are more nimble than those that are older. =)

Answer 2

Because those are the rules. They go by the year of birth, not the month. She is 16 according to year.

No, Americans don't just want something to complain about - they just think that the rules should count. It does for everyone else.

Answer 3

If an athlete's 16th birthday is within the year of the Olympics they can compete. The reason it is 15-16 years old requirement is because 12-14 year olds are still developing and the amount of stress Olympic level training puts on the body can do a lot of harm to an athlete. It is looking out for an athlete's well being.  

Answer 4

you can be 15 if ur birthday is coming up

Answer 5

It is a rule ofr all gymnasts, they must be 16 are turn 16 the year of the games to particapate

Answer 6

If it says 15 that means her birthday is gonna be later this year

Answer 7

you have to be turning 16 that year or older. (so you have to be born in 1992 or before)

because when your 13 or 14 (which is like, the prime age for gymnastics) it would put a lot of pressure on their young developing bodies and they could get hurt easier

i really wish one of the russians placed, i thought they did phenomenal. they stuck their landings perfectly.

what were the judges smoking? the screwed up the scores sooo much last night!! lol =]

Answer 8

They just have to turn 16 in the calendar year of the Olympics, so the 15 year olds are all right.  

Answer 9

No you can be 15 if you turn 16 by December 31st. That's the rule for everyone.  

Answer 10

Asian females look much younger than their age, especially during their adolescence.   American's just want something to complain about.

Answer 11

Next Olympics we'll find us some of them good nigras who know how to do flips like monkeys in a tree and we'll put 'em on our team. That'll show 'em slants how it's done!!

GET 'ER DUN.

VOTE MCCAIN '08!!!