Under age chinese gymnasts?

chinese gymnasts always look like they are 5... if they have document proof. i cant dispute

Even if they're old enough, they're still robots. They're plucked from their families and then trained for a decade or more by the government. They never see their families. At least the Americans have lives. People like Shawn Johnson actually go to school and are normal people outside of this. It's like Rocky IV except gymnastics.

If you have to break the rules to win a gold medal, your pathetic. China got to pick from ALL of their BEST gymnasts, regardless of age, clear advantage. everyone else had to make sure their gymnasts were of age thus narrowing the pool of available gymnasts. that is wrong. There is a difference between complaining and wanting someone to follow the rules. A forged passport is hardly what I call valid document.

I am going to disagree with you stating that they deserved to win. Of course they're going to win if they are using underage girls that are way more flexible, agile, and weigh less. Its a huge advantage that applies to the Chinese only for their cheating. I don't need a fake passport to prove to me they're over 16 because its their own country producing such farce not to mention they're hosting the Olympics. It seems though they would do anything to get the gold medals even lie. This is not a question of whether or not they deserved it because any other underage girl from another country would've performed the same or better. In the end, time will tell us the truth I hope and I hope its sooner than later. By the way, I'm sure for the next Olympics the Chinese will not get away with such hypocrisy and buying the judges as well.

There are some interesting answers here, but there are two points I'd like to make: First of all, why would the Chinese risk such a huge controversy just to best the Americans? There are already so many reasons for the Americans to dislike the Chinese government. And second, the Chinese count age differently than we do here in the west. For instance, when a baby is born we wait until the anniversary of his/her birth, to celebrate the 1st birthday. The Chinese count the birth date as the first year (since technically, babies take 9 months to develop -- that is almost one year). So when the baby has their 1st anniversary of their birth, they are then said to be 2. Since that would mean than any of those girls who will be 16 in the calendar year 2008, which is the Olympic rule right now, she could be younger than that. Depending on what month she was born in. I know this is strange, but that is the way they determine time. I know that the Olympic people are aware of this, because it is common in most Asian countries. It is not just a Chinese thing. But regardless, this is still probably just another problem to toss into the mix when the final race has been run, the final medal awarded, and the final firecracker has exploded, and the athletes leave for home. It seems that there has to be at least 1 really big conrtoversy for there to be an exciting olympics. Never mind Michael Phelps and Bolt! The world thrives on drama. Bela Karoli has been outspoken, but then, he works for the US Olympics, so he has to make some noise. But in all seriousness, is there anything we can do about it now? Let's just remember Shawn Johnson's tremendous smile and Michael Phelps 8 gold medals. This has been a good Olympics, and as of tonight, the USA still has more medals! Maybe not more gold, but MORE!

Well said. Hail 88: "asians have NEVER experienced real democracy" . wow are you sure what you are talking about? How many places in Asia you have been to?

my mothers a Pediatrician she has worked with kids, from newborns to kids in their 19 or 20's shes worked with all different races.. she said in fact those girls are not 16 years of age. She said you can tell my their facial structure ( cheeks and Chins) My neighbor is FULLY Chinese and she even said those girls are not 16 and she lived in china until she was 13 My mom also said when your 16 your eyes are fully developed and you have more visible white around you pupils. when your younger your pupils are larger and have less white around your eyes not matter what your ethnicity. that's another way you can tell. and one still has a missing tooth. My mother also said they don't have any secondary sex characteristics. and it doesn't matter that they are gymnast. my sisters a gymnast with no body fat and i'm a ballet dancer. but for them t be 16 and there bodies to not have hip bones and not any sign of breast. Nastia has no body fat and still has a developed chest. My mom also said if they were really 16 and to have as small bones that they do they would be incredibly sick, and to sick to train and preform like they are. But there bones are normal development for 10-13 year olds which is healthy for that age. She said the only exceptions for the 16 year olds are Cheing Fei ( who she doesn't think is 20. They probably have lied about he age in the past to make her older and had to keep it up) and she thinks Li Shan Shan might be 16.

You said, "I dont think it is reasonable for someone to be excluded out of a competition for being younger than everyone else and still beating them." It's not the fact that they're younger; it's that they are breaking the rules. All Olympic athletes have to be SIXTEEN to participate. Not 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15. But sixteen (16). LEGALLY. If that rule did not exist and these young girls were winning, sure, it would be completely fair. The dispute is not in whether they are great or poor gymnasts - the disputes is in the rules and in their age. Gotta play by the rules.. it's sad that they gotta cheat to win. What a wonderful example the host country sends the entire world: CHEATING IS THE WAY TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. Oh, and the comment saying wouldn't they be at school if they are underage? A Chinese reporter shown on ABC said that in China, the students are trained from 2 - 3 years old, go to school, but school comes second to athletics and gymnastics. They train so much that all the kids sleep at their gymnastics place or school all together and only see their parents about 4 times a year. WOW.

If there wasn't an age limit than everyone would be like "Holy crap! did you see China? Those girls are like 13 and can kick some serious butt!" There is an age limit and everyone else has to abide by it, why should China be the only exception to that rule? They think they are superior to every other country and by letting them get away with it, we let them be. They are underage, they know it, we know it, all of China knows it. Chinese television has admitted they are under age. They should be stripped of all their medals in the girls gymnastics. Yeah, they are better, but they're cheating. If we let them get away with it [again] they won't ever stop. If they get stripped, China will be devastated, which will hopefully get through their heads that if they cheat there will be consequences. No one should be above the rules. Of course their good. They're taken away from their families at the age of 3. All they ever do is train. They only see their families once a year. I'll admit the Chinese are very talented. But should not be above any rules. Why age matters in the Olympics, we may never know, but as long as it is, everyone should abide by the same rules. If USA is found guilty of steroid use and its against the rules, they should be stripped of their medals too.