Chinese Gymnatics Poll

[MMM]

And if 13 and 14 year-old bodies really do perform the gymnastics better, then why do they have the 16-year-old rule? I can understand if that was a universal Olympic rule, and I don't think that is a bad thing, but there are 14-year olds diving, so why do they get to dive at 14 but not participate in gymnastics.

Could it be that a gymnist's career would be over at 18 or 20? I don't know.

[MaculateOffering]

I think it has to do with humanitarian issues, they don't want to harm the children?

[StangGuy]

Though a few of them do look under 16, the reason I absolutely believe they are under 13 is the number of documented incicdents coming from China saying they are under 16. The last one coming only a couple months ago. It also doesn't help that their passports were only issued this year and a Chineese gymnast admitted that she competed in the 2000 Olympics while only 14. If there was no evidence other than appearing underage there wouldn't be much of a story. However, you just don't have the same "mistake" of a misquoted age repeated the same at different events like the Chineese are claiming. However, there are only two ways to know for sure and that would be for the gymnasts to admit they are under age or for someone to come up with a copy of their family registers from before 2007. I don't expect the latter is even possible now but the former will probably happen eventually.

For a resolution I think they should do away with the age requirement. The claim by the FIG that it is for the health of the gymnasts is rediculous. Just because they can't compete in an international event before 16 doesn't mean that they won't be training at the same level as if they could compete at 12 or 14. You don't become an elite gymnast by training for 1 or 2 years. It is generaly accepted that every one of the gymnasts regardless of country has been training at an elite level since they were 10 or younger.

[paul999]

I wouldn't be surprise if they are underage...

[MMM]

More than one news source had them listed at ages that would make them below the legal age now, but those have all been taken offline now. (Making them even more suspicious.)

I agree with you Stranguy...just get rid of the age requirement.

[MissMisa]

Judging on looks alone, they look about 8 years old! I am 17, and I don't look anywhere near as young as that. Then again, you have to remember for their sport, they will be more lean and slender than the average 16 year old, and they are also Chinese and they do develop different on average to western women.

Still, even looking at the faces... they do look very young.

[rina26]

Well...I'm 21...and last year while I was job hunting and asked for a job application...I was told I had to be at least 13 to apply

They do look underage but I couldn't tell you if I thought they were underage. Us asians make it so hard to tell.

[CarleyGee]

When I saw the gymnasts, I immediately questioned myself if they lowered the age for participating!
My mother agreed that they looked really young, and I wouldn't doubt it.
Honestly, I thought some of the judging was a bit off too.

[Henbaka]

Wasn't it proved already that one of the girls were 13? Birth certificate or something + chinese media earlier this year mentioned her as a "promising 13-year-old.

Obviously being younger is not an extra "obstacle" for a woman gymnast. I think the agelimits are there for a reason, but hey, that's just my opinion.

But rules are rules, and everyone participating should follow them (the host country being no exception...)

[JoshAussie]

^ Agreed. Whether there should be no rules or not doesnt matter. The rules are there right now and going off of what butters said if thats right the rules have been broken. If the rules have been broken medals should be taken away. It shouldnt matter if its the host nation or any other nation. rules are rules there should be no exceptions.