China Suspected of Foul Play in Olympic Gymnastics

Anyone heard of this?

BEIJING -- Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.

ESPN - Earlier state media report listed gymnast He's age as 13 - Olympics (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/gymnastics/news/story?id=3534544&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines)

This would be an absolute shame, if it's true, because that would mean an entire country was cheating -- not just an individual. I can be almost certain this would be totally out of the question for any of the big 8 countries. The sad part is, I can't be so certain about China. If true, I think you have to bar China from future Olympics.

Anyone heard of this?

BEIJING -- Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.

ESPN - Earlier state media report listed gymnast He's age as 13 - Olympics (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/gymnastics/news/story?id=3534544&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines)

This would be an absolute shame, if it's true, because that would mean an entire country was cheating -- not just an individual. I can be almost certain this would be totally out of the question for any of the big 8 countries. The sad part is, I can't be so certain about China. If true, I think you have to bar China from future Olympics.

If its true then the whole world should be ashamed of being beat by a bunch of kids. JK

I did hear about it and am aware of the advantages. On the other hand I really could care less. China has their strong events and we have ours.

We should make Phelps to gymnastics. That'll learn em'

Is there an advantage for being younger in gymnastics? I don't get the big deal, but I guess I don't really care about the Olympics either which makes my apathy make sense.

Yeah I am not so sure what advantage it gives them other than it increases their pool of potnetials but I do have zero doubt that at least a few of those girls were no more than 14. Tops.

Is there an advantage for being younger in gymnastics? I don't get the big deal, but I guess I don't really care about the Olympics either which makes my apathy make sense.
According to the first link in Google:
Younger, and therefore smaller, gymnasts have the advantage of being able to perform difficult skills easier.http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/chinese-olympic-gymnasts-underage-scandal/

"if" it's true?

have you seen them? if you said they were 10 i wouldn't blink. they did the forensics on facial features and came up with 12 to 14.

is there a hidden message here?

Chinese authorities insist that all three are old enough to compete. He herself told reporters after Wednesday's final that "my real age is 16. I don't pay any attention to what everyone says."

A May 23 story in the China Daily newspaper, the official English-language paper of the Chinese government, said He was 14. The story was later corrected to list her as 16.

where the f was the editor?

is there a hidden message here?





where the f was the editor?He is her name.

Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.

is there a hidden message here?





where the f was the editor?

Haha, good one.

I think to speculate about what advantage may or may not be gained through lying about age is to miss the point. They violated the rules. It's like questioning if 3 year olds really have the best chance to win the Kentucky Derby - completely irrelevant because that's the age they have to be.