Female Chinese gymnasts age

[SmokeFan14]

(Yes, I'm aware this isn't "new" news. This is, however, my first account of seeing for myself the girl(s) in question) I read an article on this controversy: CHINA GYMNAST '16,' GOING ON 14 - New York Post and after watching the debacle with Nastia Liukin 20 minutes ago, there is NO WAY these Chinese girls are 16 years old; 13 years old at the most. What a freakin' rip-off. Since when have we trusted what the country of China says, anyway?

 

[Ramy]

I guess since they are hosting they can get away with it. It's a shame.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Yeah, total B.S. 16 going on 10 in my book.

AND talk about getting hosed, the American woman (and she actually looked like a woman) clearly won the event last night. Geez, you'd think it was a figure skating competition from the judging.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

What's the point of the minimum age anyhow? Shouldn't the best be allowed to compete, regardless of age?

 

[SmokeFan14]

What's the point of the minimum age anyhow? Shouldn't the best be allowed to compete, regardless of age?

I'm not sure why the age matters..ask the I.O.C. It's their rule (that they're allowing to be broken). Maybe it has to do with unneeded pressures to succeed and/or compete on such young kids. Along the same lines as you have to be a certain age to work in the US.

 

[HD MM]

What's the point of the minimum age anyhow? Shouldn't the best be allowed to compete, regardless of age?

I asked my wife the same thing and she told me that females that are "pre-pubescent" tend to be more flexible than the older ones. This is why there is an age requirement.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

They pluck these kids from their families when they are 3 yrs. old, if they show any promise, or unusual athletic ability. I heard that during a telecast on NBC the other night. They see their families, a couple of times a year. So i guess the key word in your last sentence would be along.

 

[salsadancer7]

Yeah, total B.S. 16 going on 10 in my book.

AND talk about getting hosed, the American woman (and she actually looked like a woman) clearly won the event last night. Geez, you'd think it was a figure skating competition from the judging.

And this is the 2nd time one of gymnast got the hose job to the Chinese! Last night I saw the competition...and truth be told...HOW can a country(a judge) that has NEVER, EVER produced a medal of ANY KIND in that sport....give the American such a low score(8.9) and give the Chinese "woman"(9.3) who cleared had more mistakes when pointed out by the crew doing play-by-play...??!!

 

[wied]

Yep total screwing of the good old US of A

 

[Paul Wozniak]

See my comments in "Question of the day".

 

[salsadancer7]

Yep total screwing of the good old US of A

LMAO! My wife and I are both of latino origin...and she stated this would NEVER happen to a Cuban or a Puerto Rican....there would be ALL KINDS of hell, threats and ass whippin' all over the place. There WAS gonna be SOME kind of fist fight somewhere!

 

[Paul Wozniak]

ROFLMAO! "Ass whippin' all over the place". You really know how to turn a phrase! i spit my coffee all over my keyboard!

 

[salsadancer7]

ROFLMAO! "Ass whippin' all over the place". You really know how to turn a phrase! i spit my coffee all over my keyboard!

LOL....I am serious....if that would of happened to MY daughter....there would have been some kind of international incident and the housing project Puerto Rican would have come out of me!! THAT dad was WAY TOO understanding when they were explaining things...

 

[SmokeFan14]

They pluck these kids from their families when they are 3 yrs. old, if they show any promise, or unusual athletic ability. I heard that during a telecast on NBC the other night. They see their families, a couple of times a year. So i guess the key word in your last sentence would be along.

I'm not sure I follow..your last sentence, that is.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

That was in reference to your labor law reference. In this case "along" was open to interpretation. The Chinese are playing loosely with the rules. How can anyone question them on verification. These kids spend a majority of their lives in training from the time they are picked at 3 yrs. of age. Labor laws don't seem to apply to them. "Along the same lines as you have to be a certain age to work in the US". I hope that clears that up for you. It was a "shot' at the Chinese.

 

[dantheman77]

well, them might not be 16, but damn! they are hot!! ( that He is to dream for)

 

[SmokeFan14]

That was in reference to your labor law reference. In this case "along" was open to interpretation. The Chinese are playing loosely with the rules. How can anyone question them on verification. These kids spend a majority of their lives in training from the time they are picked at 3 yrs. of age. Labor laws don't seem to apply to them. "Along the same lines as you have to be a certain age to work in the US". I hope that clears that up for you. It was a "shot' at the Chinese.

Gotcha. I didn't take any offense to it (or from it?). I just didn't quite understand, but now I do. I see exactly what you mean. Makes sense to me. :

 

[SmokeFan14]

well, them might not be 16, but damn! they are hot!! ( that He is to dream for)

Rrrriiiight... Dude, she's probably not even 12. I might take a peek at her, say, 10 years from now. Crap, then I'll be 41. Never mind.

 

[SabresRule]

LOL....I am serious....if that would of happened to MY daughter....there would have been some kind of international incident and the housing project Puerto Rican would have come out of me!!

Would you have reacted like Miami did during their brawl with FIU?

 

[jayn_j]

I asked my wife the same thing and she told me that females that are "pre-pubescent" tend to be more flexible than the older ones. This is why there is an age requirement.

Actually, if you go back to the pre-92 Olympics, all the girls were 'pre-pubescent'. I had a daughter in the sport back in the late 80s/early 90s. She injured out as a level 9.

The problems were many. The injuries these kids received were because they were putting unbelievable strain on undeveloped bodies. The high level of exercise and careful diet was delaying puberty and also causing abnormal growth patterns. Finally there were incidents of coaches and parents chemically delaying puberty to extend careers. Did anybody really believe that Shannon Miller retained that 12 year old body until she was 20 naturally?

The IOC raised the age to 16 to force the coaches to work with women instead of little girls, where they would be able to handle it both physically and emotionally. What they didn't count on was a country willfully manipulating the rules. The rules say age is verified by passport, and China produced passports, all signed and legal.