Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Today, in news you’ll never believe: That 11 year-old looking Chinese gymnast girl is actually 13. I still find it hard to imagine that she’s even that old, but either way, that’s below the 16 year-old Olympic age limit. From the AP:
Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin [pictured] was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.It’s pretty obvious that He, and probably half the Chinese team, are under 16, but the trick is proving it. This becomes slightly problematic when you have a communist government willing to alter legal documents in order to win medals at all costs. But, if China does ever decide to end this little charade and admit that the girl(s) are underage, then I suppose the gold would be handed over to the Americans, who won silver in the team event. That seems likely to happen. You know, right after they become a Democratic state with free press and such.In its report Nov. 3, Xinhua identified He as one of "10 big new stars" who made a splash at China's Cities Games. It gave her age as 13 and reported that she beat Yang Yilin on the uneven bars at those games.
The Associated Press found the Xinhua report on the site Thursday morning and saved a copy of the page. Later that afternoon, the Web site was still working but the page was no longer accessible. Sports editors at the state-run news agency would not comment for publication.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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I’d rather be beaten by 16 yr olds then 13 or 11 year olds. GET OVER IT!
IMAGINE WHAT THE GEORGOIANS ARE FEELING THIER HOMELAND IS UNDER ATTACK. The US Athletes can’t ever stand at attention when they are playing the American National Anthem!!
by usmc_top_hawaii on Aug 14, 2008 8:15 PM EDT reply actions
Let’s just push them over and take the medals back.
Silly kids
by npcPronk29 on Aug 14, 2008 10:04 PM EDT reply actions
Somehow getting beaten by 11/13 years old isn’t exactly all that comforting…
Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "pick on someone your own size" dosn’t it?
by dagnemrth on Aug 14, 2008 10:27 PM EDT reply actions
Cut her open and count the rings. Duh.
by Big Bosh Man on Aug 14, 2008 11:53 PM EDT reply actions
stop whinning and stop lies. The rule says 16 end 2008. The issue is over once IOC accepts it.
by Chinese on Aug 15, 2008 5:36 AM EDT reply actions
The Chinese gymnasts are children masquerading as women. One of them weighs 68 pounds. How many 16 year old athletes do you know who weigh 68 pounds and are not hospitalized? The Chinese let these pre-pubesent girls compete because they have a big advantage in the beam and bar events. It’s a travesty, and everyone close to the sport knows it.
by markmaymustdie on Aug 15, 2008 4:48 PM EDT reply actions
I’m too lazy to scroll back up to the top and check, but it’d be funny if her name was "Yung Ho" or something.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Aug 15, 2008 9:49 PM EDT reply actions
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