I’ve worked with Chinese women who I know were 30-40 years old who looked like they were twelve. Probably barking up the wrong tree with this one. The American team made fatal mistakes in competition and that’s the real story.
Well, I’m in San Francisco, a city with a huge Chinese population. I see Chinese teens all the time. There’s no way that a couple of those gymnasts are 16. More like 12.
Take a look at these.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiang_Yuyuan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deng_Linlin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Kexin
Seems like there might be evidence other than visual appearances that these athletes are underage.
However, they are very young themselves; and have been brought up in the American way...you work hard and reap the rewards.
To show up at the biggest event of their lives, to be confronted by an entire team of obvious cheaters...and to realize that NO ONE in charge is going to do anything about it, had to have been a crushing blow before they ever set foot on the competition floor.
And, spare us the "we are just not used to how young the Asians look" crap. This is elite level gymnastics; I'm sure that every other coach and team knows exactly who these children are...and exactly how old they are.
I expect you will hear more about it after our athletes have finished competition and are out of China.
I agree with you.
I’ve worked with Chinese women who I know were 30-40 years old who looked like they were twelve.
Gotta agree. For years after I graduated HS, I was constantly being stopped by the cops as I walked to work and questioned about why I wasn’t in school. I was small, skinny and looked young. I wasn’t alone. When you’re older, you appreciate a youthful look, but when you’re young and constantly being pestered for it, it is a pain.
A few years ago, I saw an article about medical problems that female gymnasts endure. Specifically, because of the rigorous training routines, there is a delay of puberty; a delay in the onset of menstration and breast development. ALL of the female gymnasts display this, but the desire in themselves - or their parents - for the GOLD MEDAL is a powerful force.
In short, I believe they are of age. The Chinese have a HUGE population to cull their athletes from. They don’t need to engage in deceit.
But this is a debate that goes on every Olympic cycle anyway. Unless you’re the first to cross the finish line, politics will be the ultimate judge of who won what event...
These two stories: American’s made mistakes and Chinese child labor..
Doping is under serious international oversite and underage athletes should be too. Dental X-Rays can quickly determine age.
Lotsa old Chinese look young. Some simply are young.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt as sorry for anyone as I did for Alicia Sacramone. Not one, but two falls, for a total of a 1.6 deduction. Man, that’s a lot for the other two girls to overcome.
There are simply differences in the skull, proportions, body movements, and gestures of children and small adults, even in China. Stature and a flat nose are not the only criteria for judging age. As a mom who sees lots of Chinese kids in my neighborhood every day, I looked at some of those kids and said, "Ten. Eleven at most." A pediatrician friend said the same. Later I learned that a forensics expert also agreed.
Of course the children were wearing padded bras. Their purported breast development is not commensurate with hip development and pelvic shape. Their body proportions are those of children.
A forensic expert said that some of them still had baby teeth and the head shape and iris/white ratios of younger children.
It’s obvious: The world sees it. China loses more (How’s THAT possible?!) credibility.
When you’re a known liar, nothing you say means anything.
American’s lost, no argument,but there is absolutely no way that one girl is a day over 13.
Frankly I’m getting tired of just seeing gymnastics, swimming and volleyball... NBC should at least be playing highlights of the other sports.. why am I sitting here watching 10 minutes of warmups for Gymnastics when dozens of events were held that day?