Did anyone else catch when they put up the Chinese girl's little info bar before she did the vault Yang Yilin? They put Age: 15. Well played NBC, well played.
I think you just have to turn 16 this calendar year. Not sure though. What I am sure of is that their girls are about 2 to 3 years younger than they say they are.
Correct. They have to turn 16 during this calendar year. Otherwise, what a big stink. <<SPOILER ALERT>> NASTIA LIUKIN GOLD SHAWN JOHNSON SILVER some Chinese chick BRONZE Amazing, since it was so obvious that Liukin was screwed on the vault judging. I agreed with the NBC commentators completely/ Of course I am not biased!
The Chinese girl should not have been anywhere near that close. Horrible officiating, but at least the two that deserved it most finished 1 & 2.
The US girls finish Gold and Silver for the first time ever, and people are still bitching. Enjoy the games!
If you look at the time of the post you will notice that it was made before the event was over. It was actually made when the Chinese girl was going during her first rotation with our American girls on the Vault.
The argument has been put up that "Chinese look younger than they really are"....That may be true but not that young. Two nights ago a Chinese swimmer won a silver medal and she was 17. She looked MUCH older than the Chinese gymnasts and what you would expect a 17 year old to look like. I think this whole thing sucks and I hate that it seems no one wants to do anything about it.
I think the term you all mean is complaining. Remember it is important to always "BE POLITICALLY CORRECT!!"
On a serious note however we all need to reflect on something and this includes myself. We have to consider China and its history and reputation. There is some misunderstanding or inadvertent mistakes on this age matter. Remember historically the Chinses place great importance on intetrity, honesty, honor and truthfulness. This has always been important to China. We must remember that.
News articles in Chinese papers (Xinhua) from last year referred to one or more of these girls as 13 years old. Also, documents from earlier (non-Olympic) gymnastic competitions listed younger ages. Now, the ChiComs claim that was a mistake.
Bill, I agree that Chinese culture historically has emphasized those virtues, but to suggest that this totalitarian regime goes along with those is a very big stretch.
It doesn't matter if they are 5. The rules say they have to have official documention that they are 16. The chinese will provide that documentation regardless of age. Case closed. The time to ***** was before the comnpetition.
