Public Opinion: Does the Chinese Women's Gymnastics Team Have Underage Members?

From the following article:

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/gymnastics/news?slug=dw-gymnastsage081408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

"gymnast He Kexin was born Jan. 1, 1994, which would make her 14 and too young to compete in these Summer Olympics....As recently as December 2007, in provincial gymnastics meets and news reports that covered it, she was a 13-year-old prodigy, too young for the 16-year-old Olympic age limit for gymnastics....Earlier this year China produced her passport that claimed she was born Jan. 1, 1992, making her old enough to perform a brilliant uneven bar routine and push China to the women’s all around gold medal...."

and further down...

"The birth date of Yang Yilin was listed on official national registration lists posted by the General Administration of Sport of China website from 2004-2006 as a too-young Aug. 26, 1993, according to the AP.

On her passport her birth date is Aug. 26, 1992.

Jiang Yuyuan’s birthday was Oct. 1, 1993 as recently as a registration list for a 2007 competition. According to her passport she was born Nov. 1, 1991."

Despite the fact that the author of this story did the research for me, I found it quite compelling proof that something is fishy.

I'm appalled at the name-calling going on (i.e. "chinks"). When you say something like that you lose all credibility due to coming off as biased and even racist.

However, I do not think China deserves these golds. There are legitimate reasons why this rule was put in place, and under no circumstance should be bending or ignoring of them be allowed.

Anyways, I would recommend reading the aforementioned article.

Amanda of CA 10:00PM August 25, 2008