Olympic Comm. launches probe into He Kexin's age

[Baron1710]

The International Olympic Committee has ordered an investigation into mounting allegations that Chinese authorities covered up the true age of their gold-medal winning gymnastics star because she was too young to compete.

An IOC official told The Times that because of "discrepancies" that have come to light about the age of He Kexin, the host nation’s darling who won gold in both team and individual events, an official inquiry has been launched that could result in the gymnast being stripped of her medals


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle4583174.ece

[TRFrance]

Long overdue.

I think they'll probably strip her medals when their investigation is done, but they don't want to make a big stink about the situation now -- not wanting to embarrass the host country, China.

[dansamy]

She is not 16. No way.

[OnenessWoman]

It's a shame that the child earned it and is likely to be punished over it because someone else decided to put her in too early.

[Blubayou]

If that child is sixteen- then I will be fooled. She looked about 12 years old. That does not take away from her talent and skill, but the rules state that one cannot compete unless one is sixteen.

[HappyTown]

There's a Chinese gal who works at the Post Office here in town, I kid you not she looks 20 not a day over that. We were chatting and found out she 60 year old has grown kids with grand kids I was shocked, still very beautiful. I always ask here whats her secret...

Like to add my oldest daughter is 21 looks 16!

[MissBrattified]

You can't go by looks...there's a man who works with my husband who has an Asian wife--she looks likes she's 12 years old, but she's actually in her mid-twenties.

Not that I doubt China's capability of subterfuge.

[Indy]

We'll see what happens when the truth comes out if they can ever get to it.

[smurfette]

Originally Posted by OnenessWoman

It's a shame that the child earned it and is likely to be punished over it because someone else decided to put her in too early.

There are other young gymnast in other countries that are just as talented as she is are waiting for their time.

The female body of a gymnast goes through significant changes from the ages of 14 to 16. When puberty hits (later in atheletes) the body and mind are going through alot of upheavel. The hips, chest, body width and height are affected. A gymnast has to adjust every single skill to find her new "center" to maintain balanace on EVERYTHING. Not just the beam. This is a very tough transition.

The other thing that starts to happen in "older" gymnast is that their brain comes into play. The thinking process (what I call "cause and effect") begins to kick in even more. I other words you start to realize what in the world you are really doing. Some of the "fear factor" starts to come into play. You realise that you can do some major damage to your body. "I could get killed doing this".

The female body is at its strongest (height, weight, strength) at about the age of 14. For men, it is about 22 or 23. This is why you don't see the age problem in mens gymnastics.

[Tyk]

Originally Posted by smurfette

There are other young gymnast in other countries that are just as talented as she is are waiting for their time.

The female body of a gymnast goes through significant changes from the ages of 14 to 16. When puberty hits (later in atheletes) the body and mind are going through alot of upheavel. The hips, chest, body width and height are affected. A gymnast has to adjust every single skill to find her new "center" to maintain balanace on EVERYTHING. Not just the beam. This is a very tough transition.

The other thing that starts to happen in "older" gymnast is that their brain comes into play. The thinking process (what I call "cause and effect") begins to kick in even more. I other words you start to realize what in the world you are really doing. Some of the "fear factor" starts to come into play. You realise that you can do some major damage to your body. "I could get killed doing this".

The female body is at its strongest (height, weight, strength) at about the age of 14. For men, it is about 22 or 23. This is why you don't see the age problem in mens gymnastics.

Cool, that sounds like a good explanation. I had been wondering why that was