Another day, another possible cheat in the Beijing Olympics. Read about it below and see videos.
Chinese Gymnasts
It seems that there is a question as to whether or not the female Chinese Gymnastics Olympic team are all the required 16-years-old or older. The question has been raised by the American Gymnastics coach, Bela Karolyi. The Chinese beat the Americans yesterday (this morning) to win the gold while the Americans brought home the silver medal.
They legitimately won, don’t misunderstand. The American’s all made errors during their routines. Twenty-year-old Alicia Sacramone stumbled when she was mounting the horse. All three of the Americans made mistakes in their floor exercises. So they lost the gold medal all on their own.
Still, there is a question of the ages of the tiny, prepubescent looking Chinese girls. Some have explained their tiny physics as being under nourished in order to keep them small so that they would perform better as gymnasts. Others think the Chinese officials are lying about their ages. A former Chinese gymnast has admitted to being only 14-years-old when she competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
In spite of Bela Karolyi’s protestations, no one seems to want to follow through with investigating the ages of the girls. The International Gymnastics Federation (F.I.G.) and the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) seem to be just throwing up their hands in frustration.
The Chinese have produced passports of the girls to prove their ages and say that’s as much as they will discuss it.
Can you imagine if there was a question about the ages of the American girls? THAT would be all over the news and no one would let it go until they had forensic exams to prove their ages. Its interesting to me that the very same people that criticize Americans for virtually everything are willing to overlook anything that a Communist country does.
Chinese Gymnasts
August 19th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Hey Hobbit,
First off, let me start by telling you that it’s pretty funny when you say ‘whatever pathetic country’ that I come from…I happen to come from the United States of America! LOL…isn’t that hilarious? You see that comment you made? It’s that exact attitude that people see when they think of Americans and it’s people like yourself that give Americans that name because of your superior attitude (I am referring to your ‘envy of America’ comment). Why must everyone envy America? What’s exacty IS there to envy? I digress.
To tell you the truth, I really do not care or care to take to heart who does well and who doesn’t in these Olympics. I just don’t appreciate it when people judge without actually knowing anything and having full proof. (Yes I admit, maybe I also did that up above) But, if it was SUCH an issue before the opening ceremony (as you said), then why oh why didn’t it make headlines like it currently is today?
Anyway, if I didn’t know any better, I would think you were a relative to one of the girls that lost because it seems as though you have such an emotional connection with this issue. I say this because you can’t have a civil discussion without becoming clearly upset about it. Your overly emotional language was unnecessary, but I guess you have yet to learn about that in life.
I have stated my opinion. I am done with this issue. Continue to have your discussion about it everyone, but I honestly don’t think they are underaged. I could be wrong, but so could those sources that are saying that they are. I just wish we’d stop doing this and appreciate the actual sport. But I guess people will be people.
Oh and by the way, (1)there really is NOTHING about America that I would ever feel the need to envy, (2)even if America was under scrutiny, I wouldn’t be the one pointing fingers like you are, and (3)actually I don’t look like an idiot because you don’t have proof, my sweet dear honey hobbit
August 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Olympic Chinese Gymnast Had Baby Teeth and Came in Stroller!…
The good thing about the Olympics is that its all about fair play. But, Come on now! We all know that those gymnast from China were under aged! Are they good…Yes!! Great even! They even deserved the gold medals….in the Baby Gap sponsored World Todd…
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 am
GABS I think you miss the point and I am glad you skulked away knowing that you do not know what you’re talking about. American sports are generally merit based. Talent, drive, ambition and partially opportunity all play a role. In China, gymnasts are BRED like cattle for sport. China has a mission to compete for domination in sport and capitalism. They pick and choose the smallest, nimblest, most promising toddlers and take them from their families and breed (abuse) them for victory. Gymnastics is a sport that constantly borders on abuse. American gymnasts are a more enlightened variety and compete for the love of the sport and their own personal ambition. Nastia Liukin has been doing the same routines since she was a junior gymnast. She is 19- she did not get the opportunity to compete at 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 in the olympics. IT HAPPENS EVERY FOUR YEARS! She WAITED HER TURN AND KEPT WORKING HARD EVEN WHEN PUBERTY BEGAN TO LIMIT HER ABILITIES. Is it fair that China sidesteps the rules because they know their little ones can get the job done? NOOO. Obviously you are not familiar with the sport of gymnastics and obviously you are a dogmatist with blinders on who can’t see the forest for the trees in this situation. You have no validity to speak of this issue without a solid understanding of gymnastics and physiology. It is so freaking obvious that some of those girls were not of age. Only someone with a dogmatic, anti American agenda would suggest otherwise. Your dislike of this nation drips from your rhetoric. Please do not equate this amazing country that has provided so many people in the last few hundred years so many opportunities with whatever political or philosophical dogma you dislike. This country transcends the bigotry, hate and politics of some of its ignorant citizens (and presidents). With all its flaws it is an amazing, democratic nation- you should learn about it sometime. CHINA is a fledgling wannabe nation, determined to become a dominant power in the world. That may happen and that is fine, but because of their ambition they will be willing to risk behaving unethically. That is what happened with the gymnastics scandal in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Yes, we are passionate about this issue. If you were Nastia Liukin, how would you feel?
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 am
**correction: Nastia is 18, will turn 19 in oct. I have also just read that a hacker has discovered some evidence that at least one girl is not of age. The team gold medal should be taken from China and given to the US. Also, I have NOTHING against the Chinese gymnasts. They are victims. It is the gov that orchestrated this. I also noticed that the judging was biased in many instances toward China too. I wonder why that was? Only a gymnast would understand what I am talking about. A Chinese gymnast got a bronze medal on vault and misperformed one whole vault and fell on the landing. How is this possible? And if anyone thinks I am USA biaed it is not true. I fell in love with the little firecracker Sandra Izbasa from Romania who won gold on floor and deserved it. Whatev-
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:33 am
it has nothing to do with it being a communist country. Are you still scared of Russians? get over it. Way to promote fear.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:58 am
You Americans are pissed off becos, you cannot beleive that China has more gold medals than you. Despite all the odds, China managed to organise the greatest Olympics ever. And it is quite clear that London 2012 can never match this either. So accept defeat gracefully and don’t accuse others.
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Shame shame shame. I’ve been to China and NO WAY those girls are even close to 16. I’ve traveled all over China and know this first hand. Lets take a quick glimpse of them cheating, ready? :
digital flowers - fake
fireworks - fake
bus homeless people out of city
trample over human rights daily
found cheating a few years back
sends lead based crap to our kids to eat and die
removed website links to the girls ages
need more proof? Chinese people won’t admit when their wrong nor will they admit they falsified their ages on the documents
China is a cesspool of oppression and death
China will never be great or honest in the worlds eyes
China will go down as the “worst country in the world” ubermann quote,,,sorry…
August 24th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Maybe these gymnasts are the correct age, but I think flor most people the word of the Chinese Government isn’t worth anything. they’ve already lied about the opening ceremony and other things. I still believe they should be completely embarrassed about the treatment of the 7 year old singer who was deemed not pretty enough. How can anyone with a HEART do something like that to a little child?
August 25th, 2008 at 2:10 am
I think it is all a bunch of bull shit!! These girls are underage and China is scared to admit it and be stripped of there gold metals! If the girls are of age let them investigate it and prove us all wrong, but as of right now the chinese are looking like cheaters. HOpefully they will relize what they did was wrong and admit to it…..good luck!!
August 25th, 2008 at 2:52 am
Sore Losers.
And even if those girls are really 13 then…the american team got their asses kicked by a buncha little kids