This very interesting report from ABC News about the allegedly underage Chinese women’s gymnastics team, interviews a forensic artist to explain why looking 12 or 13 is the same as being 12 or 13. There are certain characteristics come with age that the Chinese gymnasts do not have. Like adult teeth.Tonight they square off against the Americans, but this time the U.S. gymnasts have the advantage in the All Around competition.
underage
Beijing Beat: Age Discrimination in Gymnastics
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
There’s been much hoopla over whether or not the female Chinese gymnasts —who won the gold medal in the team competition last night—are of age.
Writes NBC News: “Yang Yilin, a medal contender in the all-around and uneven bars, was born Aug. 26, 1993, according to the 2004, 2005 and 2006 registration lists previously posted on the Web site of the General Administration of Sport of China. That would make Yang only 15 later this month. Gymnasts have to be 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible for the games.”
Two other gymnasts on the team might be too young to compete: Yang Yili and He Kexin, both medal contenders.
The LA Times quotes the Chinese coach, claiming that at 13 He Kexin was ready to compete in an event in 2007 where the age limit could only be between 13 and 15 years of age.
Though many will cry “uncle” over China’s alleged unfair advantage, the truth is that the Chinese team’s routines are so much harder, they started out two points ahead before executing a single flip.
The rumors have caused outspoken U.S. coach, Bela Karolyi, to unleash a series of humorous invectives against the Chinese team. He called the teeny tiny gymnasts, “half people,” and said, “”These people think we are stupid.” He pointed out that trusting the passport information coming from an authoritarian government is laughable, as they can change whatever they want to fit their needs.
Though Karolyi’s method of objection isn’t exactly elegant, his point is correct. Pitting lean, young, fit 13 and 14 year-olds, who are up to 30 pounds lighter than their 17-year old battle-scarred competitors is not fair, and gives them a distinct advantage—one, that he argues, they don’t even need to use because they have a fair number of of-age competitors who could cream the U.S.. Then, there is the psychological advantage. The younger you are the less self-doubt creeps in; the less you “psych” yourself out. This is a huge factor in gymnastics. Physically, these gymnasts have done these routines and practiced these repetitions so many times they could have done them in their sleep. It’s their minds that get in the way.