Chinese Gymnatics Poll

[MMM]

You don't have to be certain...it says "what do you think?"

[Jaydelart]

Originally Posted by MMM

You don't have to be certain...it says "what do you think?"

Then I say it's highly possible - in my opinion - that a few of them don't meet the age requirement.

[MaculateOffering]

*Waves* Hello, I'm new.

From looks, they look younger than 16 to me. But I have read before that gymnastics (as well as other athletic pursuits) started at a young age, and coupled with the intense training they pursue to be "Gold", can stunt a person's development and even keep them from reaching puberty far beyond what might be considered the "average/normal" time. That might be the case since some of these girls are rumored to have started training when they were about 3 years old.

And this might just be ignorance/hearsay, but when a Chinese child is born are they not considered "1 year old"? Since this is their first year in the world? If that is not true, disregard. It is just something I heard once.

[MMM]

I know they do that in Korea, so that's why they go by birthdates.

Which would make reports that a couple of the girls were 13 and 14 only 9 months ago in the Chinese press even worse, as they would have meant 12 and 13.

[noodle]

Is there a purpose to this thread?!

I do think they are 16 or WILL be 16 this year (as the rules are) simply because there is no reason for them to lie. I feel that it's just that the US are a bit bitter on losing out in the team Gymnastics... Which is a huge shame, because the US have been amazing this olympics (as always).
U.S. girls come of age :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Greg Couch

Anyway, you can't really look at someone and give judge their age... I was shocked to find out that Nastia Liukin (who's russian ) was 18. Usually, American's look a lot older than the kids/teenagers I've grown up with, whereas, chinese, they always look young(er). I have a chinese friend who is 25, and I thought she was 18.
All that is to say, you can't really judge accurately, and there is no reason for china to lie...

[noodle]

Originally Posted by MaculateOffering

And this might just be ignorance/hearsay, but when a Chinese child is born are they not considered "1 year old"? Since this is their first year in the world? If that is not true, disregard. It is just something I heard once.

That's true in some parts of China, but not all.

[Jaydelart]

Originally Posted by noodle

Is there a purpose to this thread?!

Mental stimulation.

[MMM]

The purpose is to simply discuss one of the Olympic controversies. I was curious if people felt the athletes on the Chinese gymnastic team looked their claimed ages. It wasn't started because of hard feelings, trust me. If you need to depend on loopholes to win, then that isn't winning. The American team is strong, but the Chinese team was stronger. I am not denying that.

I am just wondering if people see 16-year-olds when they look at some of these girls.

[ante]

Well then, judging from the 16 year olds I'm just to seeing then my answer will be no, they are not all 16 or turning 16 this year.

[MaculateOffering]

Originally Posted by noodle

That's true in some parts of China, but not all.

Ha ha, well I suppose I would prefer being partially wrong over completely wrong.

Originally Posted by MMM

... If you need to depend on loopholes to win, then that isn't winning.

I agree. I obviously become excited when America does well but the Olympics is overall a wonderful thing to watch. I mean, what the Olympians do is something astonishing that I personally could never achieve, so no matter who wins I am happy.