The Chinese Baby Gymnasts

**amykhar** · #1 08-13-2008, 11:45 AM

There has been quite some talk about the Chinese women gymnastics Olympic team being under the minimum age of 16. And, I have no doubt that they are. Some of them look 9 or 10 years old.

And, if they are indeed under age, it's a violation of the rules and I don't condone or justify it. But, it's a moot point. Officials have certified the team as being of age. They were allowed to compete and they won the gold. Done deal.

My only question is - why the age limit? Other Olympic sports don't have it. I saw a 14 year old diver compete the other night. And, I can remember in earlier years that younger gymnasts competed.

So, the question is - if having younger gymnasts is an advantage, why stop teams from using the younger girls? I can't imagine the age limit protects the girls in any way. They would still be training and competing for other events.

It seems that the age limit just gives an advantage to closed countries like China where the government will fake records to win medals.

**Prepoia**[$] · #2 08-13-2008, 12:16 PM

From what I heard last night, the Chinese begin these babies at about 3 years old and that is their life until the Olympics. They said that most American girls don't begin the harder stuff until much later. However, that doesn't really answer your question unless the age limit is to protect kids from being pressured way too young to do things that may injure their bodies for life. Wow....I agree that those girls were NOT all 16 though. One was missing a tooth that kids lose much younger than that.

**lynnzop**[$] · #3 08-13-2008, 12:17 PM

Trying to figure out how to say this right....

Exploitation...do we feel "better" about a 16 year old (or 14 year old) v. a 9 year old being put in the position of competing at Olympic level?

Physical development...yes they are still training at that early age, but perhaps not as hard as they would be to compete in the Olympics.

Psych development...same...can a 16 year old handle the pressure better than a 9 year old? What would that do to a child who was exposed to that kind of competition at such an early age?

I really like the stories of the older Olympians better - like the gal who moved to Germany so that her son could be treated for luekemia. She's in her 30's and competing in gymnastics (very well, I might add).

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #4 08-13-2008, 12:20 PM

I was going to say the physical dangers of overtraining at such a young age. Gymnastics is probably the only sport where being less developed (smaller, lighter) is better for winning medals, other sports depend on muscles for building speed and agility.

realtraveller · #5 08-13-2008, 12:50 PM

Just as Olympians are tested for illegal substances in their bodies, they could be examined to see if they are in fact the age they say they are in the so-called records. I think dentists can pretty accurately determine age by a dental exam. Obviously China thought they could get a competitive advantage by breaking the age limit rules. And they did.

**drmomentum**[$] · #6 08-14-2008, 07:10 PM

Cut them open and count the rings.

In any case, I think the age limit might be silly. Are we going to pat ourselves on the back because our athletes are older? As if they didn't train hard at that age.

I can't get too worked up about whether a handful of girls are old enough to compete in the Olympics, or whether they lied; obviously there are people for whom this is more important and I'll leave it to them. But since there are no rules that preclude hard training for younger athletes, I'm thinking that exploitation has little to do with it. The exploitation will still occur.

mtbat · #7 08-16-2008, 11:18 AM

I hadn't heard about this one... I've heard about the face/voice controversy but not this. and that american's got lower scores because the judges hate us.... blah whatever.

I'm not that interested in the Olympics this year, particularly because the Chinese are running things.

Gymnastics is an evil sport regardless of what age the person preforming.

**theworm**[$] · #8 08-17-2008, 02:16 AM

Quote:

mtbat said

I'm not that interested in the Olympics this year, particularly because the Chinese are running things.

The Chinese are running it, but the world is competing.
I just LOVE the Olympics! I'm having a great time watching.

I think Amy poses a good question. Who determines the acceptable ages by sport?

frazzledspice · #9 08-17-2008, 10:32 AM

Poor l'il things...it's tough being a "has-been" at 11.

In an international event designed to bring nations together in peaceful athletic competition, following the rules established by the International Committee is just good manners, plain and simple.

If the purpose of the games is to foster international goodwill, what does a nation say when it fails to follow the rules, whether it believes the rules are fair or not?

Is winning at any cost that important?

Would you respect our country if it sent 11 year old gymnasts to the Olympics and thumbed its nose at the rules?

(The two Chinese gymnasts I looked up on Wikipedia--the top 2--are apparently 13, but one of them sure seemed pre-pubescent.)

**amykhar** · #10 08-22-2008, 10:40 AM

The IOC is getting involved: Age of Chinese gymnasts investigated - CNN.com

**Prepoia**[$] · #11 08-22-2008, 10:58 AM

Governments produce legal documents everyday saying exactly what they want them to say. This will never be proven.

**slick4591**[$] · #12 08-22-2008, 11:41 AM

Olympic committee says there's no proof Chinese gymnasts were underage | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Latest News

**amykhar** · #13 08-22-2008, 11:46 AM

Looks like CNN is behind the times

**drmomentum**[$] · #14 08-22-2008, 12:21 PM

I heard they got those age documents from the same mail order place where Bush got the Niger uranium forgeries. That seems suspicious to me.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #15 08-22-2008, 12:28 PM

Amy - not necessarily. The investigation was reopened for a hot minute and another decision handed down. Same conclusion as the last decision, but a second decision nonetheless. CNN may be referencing the second decision, released just this morning.

**amykhar** · #16 08-22-2008, 01:20 PM

Wow. This article puts a whole new spin on the underage gymnast thing:

Sex and the Olympic city - Times Online

Do parents stay with young athletes? I got the impression that our teen gymnasts didn't even get much chance to talk to their parents about their medals and such.

anderclayton · #17 08-24-2008, 03:56 AM

According to what I saw when I was watching the after deal and such...

I've been watching these Olympics a lot more than the last few. Anyone else?

It is a lot easier to do some of the moves (especially the uneven bars) if you weigh less and according to people, the Chinese gymnasts weighed an average of 85 pounds as opposed to the American team (the example that they used) who averaged over 100 pounds. It was a reason that the Chinese were able to do some of the handstands and such on the bars. Two of the three Chinese in the parallel bars in the team competition were pretty sketchy. They were also substituted in after they'd qualified.

Essentially though the Olympics committee leaves most of that sort of thing to the countries though. I guess that this was an international gymnastics rule though. It seems odd that some of the rules that the Olympics uses are from the international scene while others seem to be more just for the Olympics.

-------------------
As an aside. Boy, I sure felt bad for the American girl that messed up her two events in the team competition. Even if she'd done them perfect the team still would have gotten the silver but boy it would sure be rough to have messed up in the clutch like that.

Ander

anderclayton · #18 08-24-2008, 04:01 AM

Quote:

amykhar said

Do parents stay with young athletes? I got the impression that our teen gymnasts didn't even get much chance to talk to their parents about their medals and such.

I guess the Chinese do the same thing that Russians used to (still?) do and takes the kids away from their folks at an early age.

I'm not really sure about the American gymnasts though. Natasha whatshername's Dad was her coach and so was right there the whole time. Not sure about the others though.

I did hear that Phelps didn't have a chance to talk to his Mom for the first few days at the Olympics though. But he was pretty much going from race to race nearly constantly.

anderclayton · #19 08-24-2008, 04:26 AM

Sorry for the triple post here but...

International Olympic Committee launches probe into He Kexin's age - Times Online

I think it is kinda interesting that the age thing has only been in effect recently (not sure how long) and that Nadia Comaniche (not sure about the spelling) was only 14 when she won her gold medal(s?). I believe that the deal I saw about the young gymnasts was an interview with Bela Coroli (sp?) afterwards. I really got a kick out of him. Very excitable fellow.

**amykhar** · #20 08-24-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

anderclayton said

I guess the Chinese do the same thing that Russians used to (still?) do and takes the kids away from their folks at an early age.

I'm not really sure about the American gymnasts though. Natasha whatshername's Dad was her coach and so was right there the whole time. Not sure about the others though.

I did hear that Phelps didn't have a chance to talk to his Mom for the first few days at the Olympics though. But he was pretty much going from race to race nearly constantly.

Ander, I guess I wasn't clear in my post. I meant in the Olympic village during the games, which according to this article, is quite the sex-fest.

**theworm**[$] · #21 08-24-2008, 11:22 PM

Ander - I think a lot of us were glued to the TV during these Olympics. I know I've been tired the last two weeks because I stayed up and watched too much!

I LOVE the Olympics, and this round was great!
Watching the closing ceremonies now.

anderclayton · #22 08-25-2008, 03:56 AM

Quote:

amykhar said

Ander, I guess I wasn't clear in my post. I meant in the Olympic village during the games, which according to this article, is quite the sex-fest.

And how are you supposed to debate that? :P

I'm not really sure how the youthful gymnast thing would factor into the sexfest thing and not really sure what the age of consent is in China anyhow (from what I heard it is/was 16 in Australia). That was the only info I really heard on parents/athletes so I gave it:p