08-15-2008, 05:23 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/g...=yhoo&type=lgns
I find it interesting that a least one of the gals competing had a 1993 birthdate listed on prior competitions. Also Chinese gov't agency listed another as a 1993 birth date too. Not only are the years different on some of them, but apparently the month of birth is also different than what is listed on passports.
Also, there was apparently news coverage (bear in mind state run Chinese coverage) about the "13 Year Old" prodigy (He) performing in 2007. Now, unless I missed something here, you don't become 3 years older from 2007 - 2008.
See also, the admission by another Chinese gymnast in 2000 that she competed underage.
I know this may sound bad, etc. But, I don't trust the Chinese government any farther than I can throw them. I find it sad that the government is pumping out these athletes to do things that their bodies probably aren't really able to handle (at least long term).
I'm not going to say that our gymnastics coaches didn't make asses of themselves, because they appear to have done just that.
Based on what I have read, the U.S. seems to have... not done all that well in gymnastics. My position isn't give the U.S. the gold, my position comes from the utter disgust at yet another example of Chinese child labor.
I find it interesting that a least one of the gals competing had a 1993 birthdate listed on prior competitions. Also Chinese gov't agency listed another as a 1993 birth date too. Not only are the years different on some of them, but apparently the month of birth is also different than what is listed on passports.
Also, there was apparently news coverage (bear in mind state run Chinese coverage) about the "13 Year Old" prodigy (He) performing in 2007. Now, unless I missed something here, you don't become 3 years older from 2007 - 2008.
See also, the admission by another Chinese gymnast in 2000 that she competed underage.
I know this may sound bad, etc. But, I don't trust the Chinese government any farther than I can throw them. I find it sad that the government is pumping out these athletes to do things that their bodies probably aren't really able to handle (at least long term).
I'm not going to say that our gymnastics coaches didn't make asses of themselves, because they appear to have done just that.
Based on what I have read, the U.S. seems to have... not done all that well in gymnastics. My position isn't give the U.S. the gold, my position comes from the utter disgust at yet another example of Chinese child labor.