Did China Lie about the female gymnastic' ages?

[Over43]

Any nation's Olympic committee lying? Come on.

Of course those girls are sixteen, in 4 years.

O43

[pam]

Originally Posted by funkymonkey

Haha!

There is a lady on the German team that was 33... dunno if any of you have personal experience with gymnastics but the sport pretty much ruins your body by the time you're 20... can't believe she can even walk after being in gymnastics for that long!

That was an interesting story concerning her. She was a gymnast for Russia. Her son was diagnosed with leukemia but there were no treatment facilities where she lived. She contacted an old friend from Germany she knew as a gymnast. Her friend got her in touch with treatment facilities in Germany. Her son is now in remission but missed the sport so she joined the German team.

[Captain_Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by pam

... As Bela Karolyi states... I watched an interview with him and he has no doubt those girls were underage.

I've never seen Karolyi have any doubt about anything. The least amount of doubt when he's dead wrong.

[Captain_Curmudgeon]

I hope they are 16.

Bad enough the way they kicked us all over the gym. Worse to find out it was a bunch of 12-year olds.

(On the other hand, I suspect we have a lot of 12-year olds who could kick our current team all over the gym.)

[Misshalfway]

I have to agree. Those girls were so very talented. I was truly amazed!

[funkymonkey]

I'm wondering if they even feed 'em. Some of them turn sideways and dissapear.

[Palerider]

Originally Posted by funkymonkey

i'm Wondering If They Even Feed 'em. Some Of Them Turn Sideways And Dissapear.

lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh i am soooo glad i found this thread!!! laughed till i cried! ceeboo....welcome to the board! love your humor!!!

It kinda reminds me the way that our hockey team kicked russias but in the 80's ...thier coach was livid! he said..how could a bucnh of amatures beat you! u are the best of mother russia! you did not play your BEST game!
to me that is what those um..16 year olds? are probably saying....were liek 12 you know? u guys are like really bad! oh look ...hanna montana is on! coach we did really good! can we watch? huh? please o please? lol i know i bad!

[Brenton]

They're definetly 16, no question about it.
Is this is the first time China has had more medals than the US? :P

[RachelleDrew]

Originally Posted by Captain_Curmudgeon

I hope they are 16.

Bad enough the way they kicked us all over the gym. Worse to find out it was a bunch of 12-year olds.

(On the other hand, I suspect we have a lot of 12-year olds who could kick our current team all over the gym.)

Most 12 year olds could. You could take a 12 year old and a 16 year old and put them in a competition together and the 12 year old would win almost everything. I quit gymnastics around age 17 because competition was pointless at that age. I had a big problem with competing against girls who were still playing with barbies but were biologically bound to whip my butt.

Actually, it's reassuring to think that they may be underage. When you hit the age of 15-17 your body begins to lose it's limber, and you gain weight because of height. Younger girls have a leg up in the competition for this reason, they are more flexible and have less mass to throw around. It's like putting a man with one arm in a boxing ring with someone who has both arms. It's very much an unfair advantage.

Typically I would say that it's just rumor and that we shouldn't be sour grapes about it. But evidence has come out that sadly proves this rumor to be true. I feel embarrassed for these girls because now their athletic career is going to be tarnished and they will be labeled as cheaters. At 10, 11 and 12 years old you can bet that their parents and coaches did the majority of this swindling for them. Way to teach your kids values.

This is why the event should have never been held in China in the first place. They have no problem kicking Tibetans around, why would they have a problem with rigging events?