Hacker uncovers 'proof' that Chinese gymnast is underage

Times of London ^ | 08/21/08 | Jane Macartney

[TigerLikesRooster]

Hacker uncovers 'proof' that Chinese gymnast is underage

Jane Macartney in Beijing

A determined computer expert has delved into cached pages on the Internet to unearth Chinese official documents showing a gymnast who took gold, edging Britain’s Beth Tweddle into fourth place, may indeed be underage.

Controversy over whether He Kexin, gold medallist in the uneven bars, is under the minimum age of 16 has surrounded her participation in the Beijing Olympics. The latest challenge over the age of the tiny Olympian comes from the discovery through a cyberspace maze of Chinese official documents listing her date of birth.

She certainly does not look as if she has reached the minimum competing age of 16. However China says her passport, issued in February, gives her birthday on January 1, 1992, and the International Olympic Committee has said proof from her passport is good enough.

If incontrovertible evidence that Ms He is underage were to come to light, Britain’s Beth Tweddle, from Cheshire, could edge up from fourth place to bronze medal position in the uneven bars. With the end of the Games just three days away, that now seems unlikely

[Parrotboy]

Something else that no one has really mentioned is her supposed birth date of January 1. A great number of suspect documents seem to have that one in common.

[thatlittlesprite]

oh god, have you watched any of the boxing? the officiating makes the incompetence of the judges of the gymnastics (both women and men) look like they are experts. but i digress, back to the issue at hand... how many 15/16 yr olds do you know that are just now losing their “baby teeth”? the toothless grin of one of china’s finest should be proof enough. when it comes to the people’s republic, nothing should surprise us. GO TEAM USA!!!